Bohuslav Martinů - Piano Sonata

- Composer: Bohuslav Martinů (8 December 1890 -- 28 August 1959)
- Performer: Rudolf Firkušný
- Year of recording: 1988
Piano Sonata, H. 350, written in 1954.
00:00 - I. Poco Allegro
04:56 - II. Moderato (Poco Andante)
11:21 - III. Adagio
Martinů's Piano Sonata No. 1 (his only piano sonata) is Martinů's largest work for solo piano. It was written just after the Symphony No. 6, dedicated to Rudolf Serkin. In the first movement one can discern Brahms 2nd Piano Concerto, and Rachmaninov's 2nd Concerto buried in the second movement. There is much here that is grave and a serious mood carries the day.
The sonata is a significant work of his late period, characterized by formal freedom, dramatic tension, harsh dissonant harmonies (more than we are accustomed to from Martinů) and features many rhythm changes. The insect buzz of the opening of his Sixth Symphony can be heard in the finale, as well as a return of the wraith of Brahms Second Piano Concerto. After playing the work to the composer at his home in Switzerland and with the benefit of the composer's advice Serkin gave the premiere in Dusseldorf in 1957.
The piano sonata is dedicated: "à Rudolf Serkin".

[@DavidA-ps1qr]

When you have an opportunity to follow the manuscript while listening to this work, you realize what an unbelievable composer Martinu was. An absolute genius, and his music (there's lots of it) just isn't played anywhere near enough.

[@eelswamp]

So true. The quartets, the duo for violin and cello, the cello sonatas, the violin sonatas, the trios - and that's just chamber music - are among the greatest of the 20th century. So underappreciated.

[@DavidA-ps1qr]

@@eelswamp Thank you for your reply Gregory. Greatly appreciated.

[@dawggonecrazee]

if you have any more Martinu,PLEASE upload olla,I adore his compsitions,can't get enough

[@cobblestonegenerator]

Oh my dear lord how im i only just seeing this now! If been a follower of your channel for a while and went on a martinu binge a while back. How i didnt see it on this channel ill never know. Thanks for the fantastic upload!

[@eelswamp]

Please share your binge discoveries.

[@ianhighton7127]

Thank you for posting. I have the original vinyl in storage, wonderful to hear this again.

[@rbrilla]

Really great music, especially the 1st movement (if the world was a fair place, this should get more attention than Rachmaninoff sonatas). And a very good performance, although a little bit timid with dynamics.

[@eelswamp]

"especially the 1st movement", and the second movement, and the third movement. I would say, a little too fast.

[@pjimenez08]

You really must be joking to say this is anywhere near Rachmaninoff.

[@Latinosmassacre-]

2:20 i think he's the best man ever lived

[@Latinosmassacre-]

how can you compose such hyper human beauty things

[@harryandruschak2843]

"Like" on 2 November 2017

[@GeorgeHenderson]

At 6:46 and 10:31 there is a catchy phrase that is also heard in Kapralova's piano concerto; so perhaps not just Rachmaninov and Brahms!

[@eelswamp]

The whole sonata is a medley of allusions to other composers: Shostakovich (preludes and fugues), Feinberg, Liszt (Aida paraphrase), Debussy (something or other), Chopin (one of the piano concerti), Prokofiev, Medtner, etc, etc. Martinu excels by making the whole greater than the sum of these parts.

[@GeorgeHenderson]

@@eelswamp It's A beautiful and entirely Martinu sonata even when one knows nothing of that!

[@eelswamp]

@@GeorgeHenderson Well, yes, there are a few snippets of Martinu, and the structure is entirely Martinu.

[@wanderer7973]

@@eelswamp may i know the time stamps for the Shostakovich and Prokofiev parts? thanks a lot

[@eelswamp]

@@wanderer7973 You mean the point in time where I find allusions to other composers? Hmmm. Let me see. It's a game of trivial pursuits which detracts nothing from the whole But here goes:
Opening: Feinberg - reminds me of the 7th and 8th sonatas (perhaps early Miaskovski 2,3,4)
1:30 Shostakovich op. 87
2:25 Miaskovski - around the period of the 6th sonata
2:54 The vivo in the first movement: Liszt
4:56 Moderato opening: Golberg 28
5:34 Liszt Aida Paraphrase
6:08 Medtner ?
6:40 Feinberg/Miaskovski
7:44 Shostakovich
9:16 Debussy
11:33 Chopin
12.05: poco allegro Prokofiev, or maybe Barber sonata
13.20 is a wonderful moment, anticipating the coda in the end, but holding it back and returning to the agitato rhythm wich resolves at 15:15 but alas, in this recording too fast for my liking to bring out the pathos.

[@cynic150]

This turns my brain into jelly.