Analysis of prokofiev sonata no 7 essay example for. By the end of the finale, however, the gentle lyrical theme from. The sonata was first performed on 18 january 1943 in moscow by sviatoslav richter. Most of the symphony is emotionally restrained, nostalgic and melancholy in mood, including the ending of the vivace final movement. Harlow robinson describes prokofievs piano sonata no. Cc72732 prokofiev symphonies nos 1 and 5 albums challenge. He cherished the idea of thinking about the sonatas 6, 7 and 8 as a huge sonata in eleven movements. Horowitzs tempo judging from the web clip ive heard is around the 1262 dotted quarter mark.
I agree with brendan that you should follow your own instincts, rather than catering to audience expectations. I havent played much prokofiev was learning the 3rd sonata as a contender for my jury, but ended up dropping it, so im not extremely familiar with his writing. Nine sonatas appeared throughout his lifetime, though not evenly spaced. Horowitz sent prokofiev a copy of his recording of the piece. This is the middle panel in prokofiev s grand trilogy of works called war sonatas. Piano sheet music book by sergei prokofiev 18911953. Romeo and juliet ten pieces for piano sandro bisotti. The sonata was first performed on 30 december 1944 in moscow by emil gilels. He mentions alternate versions of other sonatas, and i think that he uses the second version in each case, but the late sonatas probably were not revised as much as the. According to myra mendelssohn, prokofiev got this idea when reading romain rolland on beethoven. An analytical study of prokofievs sonata, opus 119, for violoncello and piano thesis presented to the graduate council of the north texas state university in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of master of music by marilyn june rietz, b. Although richter introduced the 7th sonata in 1943, it was vladimir horowitz who gave the american premiere and, in 1945, may have been the first to record it available on prokofiev. Both share the same opus number, and while the origins as a flute sonata are still present in the works inherent lyricism, it is the violin transcription that has.
The 9th sonata was also premiered by richter, this time in 1951 in honor of prokofievs 60th birthday. I believe this piece needs to play with absolute vigor, excitement, and a little bit. The precipitato finale is a toccata, which boldly affirms the key of the sonata through a more diatonic harmonic language than found in the first movement. His 7th piano sonata, the middle of the trio of war sonatas, is one of the most stupidly magnificent things written for piano. Both pianists deliver exceptional readings in their own way. The onemovement third sonata is the shortest of prokofievs sonatas. It is the most popular of the three and, at about 16 or 17 minutes, the shortest as well. Although shes appeared widely in an unusually varied repertoire from bach to wuorinen, via chausson and beach, shes never had the kind of press splash enjoyed by kissin or lang lang. Prokofiev principal composer kearns, richard sheet music prelude in bflat major in prokofiev style principal composer orsa, lena sheet music march from the love of three oranges for string ensemble principal composer prokofiev, sergei sheet music le carnaval des animaux 1intro et royal mars du lion principal composer saintsaens, camille sheet music. It is also the most carefully crafted of all his early works in this genre. Prokofiev sent horowitz a copy of the score with the inscription, for the miraculous pianist from the composer. I am however a little hesitant since i hear the main allegro inquieto tempo rather slower than the norm. The finale is energetic and lighthearted, cast in sonata rondo form, with more virtuosic running passages and challenging figurations.
They have successive opus numbers and were imagined as a. To tiein with the release, i decided to publish a listening guide to the opening movement of the cd the first movement of the 6th sonata. This is the middle panel in prokofievs grand trilogy of works called war sonatas. Between the fourth sonata, completed in 1917, and the group of war sonatas nos. As prokofiev was a formidable concert pianist, it is not surprising that he devoted a large part of his output to solo piano music. They were all written between 1940 and 1944 and were conceived the year the second world war began. Glenn gould plays sonatas, fantasies, variations by scriabin, prokofiev, grieg, sibelius. Sep 26, 2012 i recorded the 6th, 7th, and 8th piano sonatas by sergei prokofiev 18911953, which are commonly grouped together as the war sonatas, having been composed between 1940 and 1944. I recorded the 6th, 7th, and 8th piano sonatas by sergei prokofiev 18911953, which are commonly grouped together as the war sonatas, having been composed between 1940 and 1944. Then for bprima, repeated chords on right hand again to make a contrast with b i play it with pedal starting on the detache mark until the return of aprima. In appraising my music the critics wrote a good deal of nonsense.
Written in 1919, the work premiered in chicago in 1921. I have the mca complete edition of the sonatas, edited by gyorgy sandor, who recorded all of prokofievs piano music. The finale takes us into the brilliant percussive world of the popular third cto. It was premiered on february 5, 1914 in moscow with the composer performing. Make a good use of regulators and again pedal on accented notes, but remember to keep an euphoric character, its still prokofievs war sonata no. He counted it among the most chromatic of all my compositions. Finished in 1942, the sonata number 7 in bflat major op. Although it does not belong to the composers juvenilia, it is also not truly representative of his mature style, and is best appreciated as a showcase for prokofievs own pianistic skills. However, prokofiev was later convinced to add an energetic and optimistic coda, so as to win the stalin prize of 100,000 rubles because of official disapproval, prokofiev was living in poverty at this time. However, it is in the public domain in canada where imslp is hosted and other countries where the term is lifeplus50 years such as china, japan, korea and many others.
It was premiered in 1917 by prokofiev himself, and published the following year, as op. In 1942, prokofiev composed his flute sonata in d major. The work was originally cast in three movements, but prokofiev discarded the second movement and the. Sergei prokofiev composer, barbara nissman piano sergei.
Prokofiev s fifth symphony always has the sense of a heroic saga, akin to beethovens eroica. That quality is to the fore in the richterdedicated ninth sonata of 1951, where melnikov negotiates its lowering. Klaus tennstedts 1977 bavarian radio symphony orchestra recording adds a feeling of sheer joy, a dancelike animal vitality relating it as well to beethovens seventh. Prokofiev dedicated the work to his friend and fellow student at the st. Sergei prokofievs piano sonata no 7 in bflat major, op. The sonata was dedicated to sviatoslav richter, a member of the union of soviet composers, and by whom it was first performed on 21 april 1951 in moscow. The first movement preserves the basic elements of the sonata form, but the overall structure is more concise than the average classical sonata movement.
September 2012 10 important questions answered by boris giltburg. Hello, so many great ones played this extravagant masterpiece. Jul 26, 2012 i havent played much prokofiev was learning the 3rd sonata as a contender for my jury, but ended up dropping it, so im not extremely familiar with his writing. Originating in an early sonata of his conservatory years also no. Two volumes in, alexander melnikovs commanding survey of prokofiev s piano sonatas is already proving itself essential. Im working on this movement and am generally having a blast.
Slovenian national opera, ljubljana orchestra and chorus cast. Horowitz also premeried the 6th and 8th sonatas in. During the summer of 1943, sergei prokofiev escaped the wartorn eastern front for the isolation of the central asian city of almaata, where he was hard at work on the sprawling film score for sergei eisensteins ivan the terrible. What is the best recording of prokofievs piano sonata no. Make a poll and ask which is the hardest prokofiev sonata. I do not know what editing he did as it is not indicated. Apr 07, 2017 the image sergei prokofiev seems to project, particularly when it comes to the music he wrote while living in the west from 1914 to 1935, is one of a joker and an agitator, yet a classical composer at the core. His 7 th is certainly brilliantly played too, but the finale is a tad fast and lacking slightly in muscle. Obviously richter, horowitz, i even believe pletnev had good interpretations of this war sonata. Petersburg conservatory, maximilian schmidthof, who committed suicide in 19. Sergei prokofiev composed his third piano sonata, in the key of a minor, in 1917. Sviatoslav richter also liked and played prokofievs 8th piano sonatato the extent that he was initially a tiny bit disappointed with the piano sonata no. Prokofiev piano sonatas by yale school of music issuu.
The first movement, marked allegro inquieto, opens with a dark, menacing theme whose militaristic vehemence seizes the expressive reins at times with insistent bass chords that hammer out a crushing rhythm. The sonata for solo violin is an introduction, followed by the powerfully tragic sonata in f minor. Nissman conveys pianistic brilliance in the coda which concludes the sonata, described by richter as the richest of all. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. On 20 june 1939 prokofiev s close friend and professional associate, the.
Generally, for stuff like this, the rhythmic drive can totally influence your fingering choice. In the middle of this massive project, prokofiev found himself drawn to music on the other end of the spectrum something he described as a sonata in a gentle. Prokofiev war sonatas boris giltburg orchid classics. Problably my favourite performance of prokofievs 7th sonata 3rd mov. It is a fabulous and formidible sonata for piano solo. At the urging of his friend, the violinist david oistrakh, prokofiev arranged the sonata for violin the following year. Prokofiev sonata no 7, 3rd movement sokolov, piano. Reviewing the first instalment for limelight, warwick arnold observed that the essence of prokofiev s genius is distilled in his piano writing. On this orchid cd of prokofiev s war sonatas giltburg turns in performances that are competitive with the best versions of the 6 th and 8 th sonatas. Prokofievs first piano sonata was premiered early in 1910, with the composer himself at the keyboard.