33. Bedtime

In the first half of the 18th century, Johann Gottfried Walther wrote about serenades that “such works are usually performed on quiet and pleasant nights.” Although they were initially mostly vocal, then vocal-instrumental and composed in honor of important figures, they later became instrumental, light – and one might even say entertaining – multi-movement compositions, often with dance rhythms. This genre, associated with serenity and gentleness, appealed to late Romantic and 20th-century composers. Edward Elgar composed his Serenade in E minor for his wife as a gift to mark their third wedding anniversary. Mieczysław Karłowicz, in turn, wrote his Serenade in C major when he was just a 21-year-old student still taking composition lessons, yet one can already hear in it the composer’s much-praised gift for crafting beautiful melodies. Lyricism, lightness, and a sense of humor – combined with intellectual rigor – were also important to Andrzej Panufnik when he composed his Violin Concerto, commissioned by Yehudi Menuhin. With its expressive first movement, a middle movement full of noble simplicity, and a joyful, dance-like finale, this work is not as far removed from serenades as it might seem at first glance.

– Dominika Micał (pisanezesluchu.pl)