Sonatina for Violin and Harpsichord (Piston)
Encyclopedia
The Sonatina for Violin and Harpsichord is a three-movement, neoclassical chamber work
composed by Walter Piston
in 1945, that marks the beginning of his postwar style.
and Ralph Kirkpatrick
, the violinist and harpsichordist who premiered the work on November 30, 1945 (Pollack 1982, 80). The published score allows the piano as a substitute for the harpsichord, and it can sound equally good that way (Pollack 1982, 82).
The Sonatina is a clear example of neoclassicism
in Piston’s work, and shows the influence of Igor Stravinsky
(Yardley 1990). The sonatina-form first movement is in B major, and is typified by a restless, exhaustive energy produced by abrupt changes to remote keys: F minor, A major, and A major. The movement concludes with a coda that blends elements from both main themes and accelerates to a precipitosa canonic finish. The Adagio is a poised elegy in the key of A minor, with an excursion of the main theme into the distant key of F minor, The finale, like the opening movement, is in sonatina form and in B, with a chromatic, humorous, and daring main theme that owes something to the Second Viennese School
. The second theme features taut invertible counterpoint, and the entire movement brings the composition to a suitably delicate, unpretentious conclusion (Pollack 1982, 80–82).
Chamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
composed by Walter Piston
Walter Piston
Walter Hamor Piston Jr., , was an American composer of classical music, music theorist and professor of music at Harvard University whose students included Leroy Anderson, Leonard Bernstein, and Elliott Carter....
in 1945, that marks the beginning of his postwar style.
History
Piston wrote the Sonatina just after the Second World War, and its cheerful, optimistic character marks the beginning of the composer’s postwar style. It is dedicated to Alexander SchneiderAlexander Schneider
Alexander Schneider was a violinist, conductor, and educator. Born in Vilna, Lithuania, he later moved to the United States as a member of the Budapest Quartet.- Biography :...
and Ralph Kirkpatrick
Ralph Kirkpatrick
Ralph Kirkpatrick was an American musician, musicologist and harpsichordist. He is most famous for his chronological catalog of Domenico Scarlatti's keyboard sonatas.-Life and work:...
, the violinist and harpsichordist who premiered the work on November 30, 1945 (Pollack 1982, 80). The published score allows the piano as a substitute for the harpsichord, and it can sound equally good that way (Pollack 1982, 82).
Analysis
The composition is in three movements:- Allegro leggiero
- Adagio espressivo
- Allegro vivo
The Sonatina is a clear example of neoclassicism
Neoclassicism (music)
Neoclassicism in music was a twentieth-century trend, particularly current in the period between the two World Wars, in which composers sought to return to aesthetic precepts associated with the broadly defined concept of "classicism", namely order, balance, clarity, economy, and emotional restraint...
in Piston’s work, and shows the influence of Igor Stravinsky
Igor Stravinsky
Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky ; 6 April 1971) was a Russian, later naturalized French, and then naturalized American composer, pianist, and conductor....
(Yardley 1990). The sonatina-form first movement is in B major, and is typified by a restless, exhaustive energy produced by abrupt changes to remote keys: F minor, A major, and A major. The movement concludes with a coda that blends elements from both main themes and accelerates to a precipitosa canonic finish. The Adagio is a poised elegy in the key of A minor, with an excursion of the main theme into the distant key of F minor, The finale, like the opening movement, is in sonatina form and in B, with a chromatic, humorous, and daring main theme that owes something to the Second Viennese School
Second Viennese School
The Second Viennese School is the group of composers that comprised Arnold Schoenberg and his pupils and close associates in early 20th century Vienna, where he lived and taught, sporadically, between 1903 and 1925...
. The second theme features taut invertible counterpoint, and the entire movement brings the composition to a suitably delicate, unpretentious conclusion (Pollack 1982, 80–82).
Discography
- 1953. Alexander Schneider, violin; Ralph Kirkpatrick, harpsichord. New Music String Quartet. Modern American music series; Columbia masterworks. LP recording. Columbia ML 4495. With John Cage, String Quartet (in Four Parts) .
- 1974. Music for a 20th Century Violinist. Paul Zukovsky, violin; Gilbert Kalish, piano. 3-LP set. Desto DC 6435-37. Ralph Shapey: Evocation, for violin, piano, and percussion; Wallingford Riegger: Sonatina, op. 39; John Cage: Nocturne; George Crumb Night music II; Peter Mennin: Sonata Concertante; Morton Feldman: Vertical Thoughts 2; Michael Sahl: String Quartet; Henry Brant: Quombex, for viola d'amore, music boxes, and organ; Stefan Wolpe: Second Piece for Violin Alone; Walter Piston: Sonatina for Violin and Harpsichord; Roger Sessions: Duo for Violin and Cello; Milton Babbitt: Sextets for violin and piano; Arthur Berger: Duo no. 2; Harvey Sollberger: Solos, for violin, flute, clarinet, horn, double bass, and piano. Program notes by Nicolas Slonimsky.
- 1986. Robert DavidoviciRobert DavidoviciRobert Davidovici is an award-winning Romanian-American violinist. In 1983, Davidovici tied for first place to co-win the Carnegie Hall International American Music Competition. The prize was $77,000 and Davidovici received half....
: Winner of the 1983 Carnegie Hall International American Competition for Violinists. Robert Davidovici, violin; Steven De Groote, piano; Paul Schoenfield, piano; Walter Piston: Sonatina for Violin and Harpsichord (piano). Gunther Schuller: Recitative and Rondo for Violin and Piano; Aaron Copland: Nocturne for violin and piano. Hugh Aitken: Partita for Solo Violin. Paul Schoenfield: Three Country Fiddle Pieces. LP recording. New World Records NW 334-1. CD recording NW334-2. New York: New World Records. Recorded Anthology of American Music, Inc. - 1990. Darius Milhaud: Sonatina for Violin and Harpsichord, op. 257; Walter Piston: Sonatina for Violin and Harpsichord; Samuel Adler: Sonata No. 2 for Violin and Harpsichord; Bohuslav Martinů: Promenades for Violin, Flute, and Harpsichord; Edmund Rubbra: Fantasy on a Theme of Machaut, for Flute, Harpsichord, and String Quartet, op. 86; Cantata Pastorale, for Tenor Solo, Flute, Cello, and Harpsichord, op. 62; Antonín Dvořák: Bagatelles, for String Trio and Harmonium, op. 47. Tony Bouté, tenor; Bonita Boyd, flute; Charles CastlemanCharles Castleman, violinistCastleman, Charles American violinist and teacher b. Quincy, Mass., May 22, 1941. He began violin lessons at the age of four with Ondricek. When he was only six he appeared as a soloist with Fiedler and the Boston Pops Orch. At nine, he made his solo recital debuts at Jordan Hall in Boston and...
and Julie Gigante, violins; Virginia Lenz, viola; Pamela Frame, cello; Barbara Harbach, harpsichord. CD recording. Albany TROY041. Albany, NY and Carnforth, Lancashire: Albany Records. - 1994. The American Album. Anne Akiko Meyers, violin; André-Michel Schub, piano. Walter Piston: Sonatina for violin and harpsichord; Aaron Copland: Sonata for violin and piano, and Nocturne for violin and piano; Charles Ives: Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 4 "Children's Day at the Camp Meeting"; David Nathaniel Baker: Blues for Violin and Piano. CD recording. New York: RCA Victor Red Seal.
- 2000. American Harpsichord Music of the 20th Century: Mark Kroll. Mark Kroll, harpsichord; Nancy Armstrong, soprano; Carol Lieberman, violin; Alan Weiss, flute; Bruce Creditor, clarinet. CD recording. Albany TROY457. Albany, NY, and Carnforth, Lancashire: Albany Records. Lou Harrison: Six Sonatas for Cembalo (1943); Ellen Taaffe Zwilich: Fantasy for Harpsichord; Gardner Read: Fantasy-Toccata for solo harpsichord; Walter Piston: Sonatina for Violin and Harpsichord; Robert Starer: Yizkor and Anima aeterna for flute and harpsichord; Lester Trimble: Four Fragments from the Canterbury Tales, for high voice with flute, clarinet, and harpsichord.