Violin Sonata (Janácek)
Encyclopedia
Violin Sonata for violin
and piano
is a work of the Czech composer
Leoš Janáček
(1854-1928). It was written in the summer of 1914, but it was not Janáček’s first attempt to create such a composition. He resolved to compose violin sonata already as a student at the conservatoire in Leipzig
in 1880, and later during his studies in Vienna
. His early sonatas are today lost.
. The composer himself remembers: "...in the 1914 Sonata for violin and piano I could just about hear sound of the steel clashing in my troubled head...".
The Sonata was printed after many corrections in mid-1922 by Hudební matice in Prague
. Its first performance was given by violinist František Kudláček with Jaroslav Kvapil
at the piano on 24 April 1922 at the concert of new Moravian music organized by the Young Composer’s Club in Brno
. The first performance abroad took place in Frankfurt
in 1923, the violin part was performed by the German composer Paul Hindemith
.
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
and piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
is a work of the Czech composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
Leoš Janáček
Leoš Janácek
Leoš Janáček was a Czech composer, musical theorist, folklorist, publicist and teacher. He was inspired by Moravian and all Slavic folk music to create an original, modern musical style. Until 1895 he devoted himself mainly to folkloristic research and his early musical output was influenced by...
(1854-1928). It was written in the summer of 1914, but it was not Janáček’s first attempt to create such a composition. He resolved to compose violin sonata already as a student at the conservatoire in Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
in 1880, and later during his studies in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. His early sonatas are today lost.
Background
It took almost thirty-five years before Janáček returned to the composition of music for the same combination of instruments. The sonata was created in the period of composer’s marked interest in chamber music (Piano Trio (now lost), 1908, Pohádka (Fairy Tale) for cello and piano, 1910), and also at the beginning of World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. The composer himself remembers: "...in the 1914 Sonata for violin and piano I could just about hear sound of the steel clashing in my troubled head...".
The Sonata was printed after many corrections in mid-1922 by Hudební matice in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
. Its first performance was given by violinist František Kudláček with Jaroslav Kvapil
Jaroslav Kvapil (composer)
Jaroslav Kvapil was a Czech composer, teacher, conductor and pianist.Born in Fryšták, he studied with Josef Nešvera and worked as a chorister in Olomouc from 1902 to 1906. He then studied at the Brno School of Organists under Leoš Janáček, earning a diploma in 1909...
at the piano on 24 April 1922 at the concert of new Moravian music organized by the Young Composer’s Club in Brno
Brno
Brno by population and area is the second largest city in the Czech Republic, the largest Moravian city, and the historical capital city of the Margraviate of Moravia. Brno is the administrative centre of the South Moravian Region where it forms a separate district Brno-City District...
. The first performance abroad took place in Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
in 1923, the violin part was performed by the German composer Paul Hindemith
Paul Hindemith
Paul Hindemith was a German composer, violist, violinist, teacher, music theorist and conductor.- Biography :Born in Hanau, near Frankfurt, Hindemith was taught the violin as a child...
.
Recordings
- Debussy, Janáček, Poulenc, Ježek: Violin Sonatas. Supraphon 1958. SU 3547-2 (Josef Suk - violin, Jan Panenka - piano)
- Janáček, Brahms, Beethoven: Sonatas. Supraphon 1992. SU 3857-2 (Josef Suk - violin, Rudolf Firkušný - piano)
- Janáček: Instrumental and Orchestral Works (2CD). EMI 2001. 7243 5 74844 2 8 (Pierre Amoyal - violin, Mikhail Rudy - piano)
- Beethoven, Schumann, Brahms, Prokofiev, Strauss, Messiaen, Busoni, Bartok, Janacek: Music for violin and piano (8CD). DGG B000204802 (2004) (Gidon Kremer, Martha Argerich)
- Debussy, Ravel, Janacek. EMI 857082 (2004) (Frank Peter Zimmermann, Alexander Lonquich)