Jean-Pierre Vial composed this piano concerto between 2007 and
2011. The concerto consists of four movements, with two lively
movements surrounding a slower movement and a brief scherzo.
The first movement, allegro ma non troppo,
is based on two
main themes. Both themes are initially exposed, the first one in the
main key (or tonality) of G minor and the second one in the key of the
dominant. Then both themes are developed in their
original four-beat rhythm. After a short cadenza
(specified ad libitum),
the themes are then
developed in a ternary rhythm.
The movement ends with a tutti based on the initial theme in its
original rhythm.
The second movement, andante cantabile, is
based on a single,
lyrical and swinging theme, in the homonym key of G major.
The development includes two series of large piano arpeggios that
surround a short cadenza (also specified ad
libitum).
The second series of piano arpeggios concludes the movement.
The third movement is a short scherzo,
initially
in triple time, also based on one main theme (in C major).
The movement emphasizes the scherzo
concept by developing a number of
rhythmic variations of the theme
in three-, four-, five- and even seven-beat measures.
The finale, allegro vivace, is based on
two main themes.
After a short introduction that leads back to the main key of G minor,
both themes are initially exposed, the first one in the main key and
the second one in the relative key of B flat major. Then both
themes are developed using numerous
syncopations.
Further on, the piano introduces a swinging melody that could be
analyzed as a third theme.
Subsequent developments, however, lead rather to analyzing that melody
as a rhythmic motif which will counterpoint the first theme.
After developing those two (or three) themes, the finale ends with a
tutti based on the initial theme in its original form.
