Concertante for Two ViolinS and Orchestra

Duration 15’ (2022)
2 solo violins; 2222 4200, hp, timp, strings

Available as Two Violins and Piano

Commissioned by José Figueroa in honor of The Figueroa Strad and in memory of Pepito Figueroa.

THE STORY
“There is only one person to whom I will sell this Stradivarius violin.” Those words started an amazing, multi-generational, international saga that culminates in this commissioned piece which will receive its world premiere by the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony, under the baton of Music Director Christopher Zimmerman.

The piece honors Pepito Figueroa of the legendary Puerto Rican musical Figuero family dynasty, who was known as the most extraordinary Puerto Rican violinist and teacher of all time, and the “Figueroa Stradivarius.”

In 1945, when many top violinists rushed to New York City to play a Stradivarius that was up for sale, the owner’s widow was so impressed by the playing of 40-year-old Pepito Figueroa, the final musician allowed the opportunity to play the instrument, that she vowed she would only sell it to him. Unfortunately, he did not have the funds to allow him to purchase it. A friend of the family in Puerto Rico, which owned the island’s top newspaper El Mundo, put the story on the front page and within days, enough people from around Puerto Rico had donated money to purchase the instrument, and a lifelong career in performance and teaching was launched. Quite a career in fact – the final violin lesson he taught was at age 93 from his hospital bed; he passed away peacefully 4 hours later.

Now the next generation of musical Figueroas intends for this family dynasty’s legendary treasure to come full circle. The Pepito Figueroa Stradivarius violin is in the process of being sold, and the proceeds from the sale will be donated to the people of Puerto Rico, who are still rebuilding from the 2017 Hurricane Maria.

To commemorate this life and legend, Pepito’s son, Pepe Figueroa, commissioned composer Jonathan Leshnoff to write a piece for two violins and piano, to be performed by his famed musical cousins Guillermo Figueroa Jr., Narciso Figueroa Jr., and pianist Ivonne Figueroa. Leshnoff and Christopher Zimmerman then collaborated on the idea of orchestrating the piece for full orchestra and two violins, which will receive its world premiere performance at this concert with commissioner Pepe Figueroa in attendance.

THE MUSIC
The Concertante for Two Violins and Orchestra is in three movements. Originally written for two violins and piano, the challenge in this piece was to balance two solo instruments with the same timbre and register with a full orchestra. You may notice that the wind sections are smaller, with no trombones, tuba, or extensive percussion. The piece captures the arc of Pepito Figueroa’s career, and ultimate passing on of one violin to another.

The first movement is somber and introspective with long, lyrical lines. The second movement is a lively scherzo, and the triumphant third movement is full of musical virtuosic fireworks, incorporating the original lyrical theme which is now transformed into a brilliant finale.