Russian Cello Sonatas; Sergei Rachmaninoff, Nicolai Miaskovsky, Dimitri Shostakovich, Igor Stravinsky, Sergei Prokofiev, composers; Truls Mork, cello; Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano; Lars Vogt, pianoOver the years, I have taken on the piano part of any number of Paul Hindemith’s sonatas for wind or string instruments. Mr. Hindemith, over the course of his career, wrote at least one sonata for most of the orchestral instruments. The common feature of distinction with these 20th century works is that the piano part often has ten times the difficulty of the other part. Subsequently, I have redubbed the titles of Mr. Hindemith’s sonatas. His Trombone Sonata (1941), for example, has now been given the designation Really Hard Piano Part Sonata With Light, Fair, Candy Cane Trombone Obligato (1941) (title edit, 2010, E.A.).
The same could be said of Rachmaninoff’s Sonata for Cello and Piano in G Minor, Op. 19. The exception here, though, is that Mr. Rachmaninoff included the word “piano” in the title of the piece. That, right there, gives the pianist an equal voice to the cellist concerning the interpretation of the work. And, well, it should be so. The piano part is
HUGE!
And with no intention to undermine the difficulty of the cello part, I have redubbed the title: Piano Concerto Sonata for Piano and No Orchestra But With Guest Appearances by a Cello, Op. 19 (title edit, 2010, E.A.).
I haven’t learned this piano part yet, but it is on my piano part bucket list.
Credits: To Ms. Elizabeth Pridonoff, who played the piano part of Mr. Rachmaninoff’s Op. 19 at a faculty recital at CCM in 1989. I will never forget it. It was awesome. Bravo.
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And what have you dubbed the HIndemith Flute Sonata?
ReplyDeleteThe Hindemith Flute Sonata is just dang hard, no matter what Erik names it! Another awful sonata is the Kent Kennan crazy thing for trumpet. In the last movement there is one page where the time signature changes in 17 out of 19 or 20 measures. My new rule is that composers can write difficult notes, or difficult rhythms, but they should not be allowed to do both in the same piece without risking Beverly's wrath! I always love it when a singer or instrumentalist hands me music and says, "oh, it's not THAT hard!" Sometimes I put things in the wrong key just to show who really is in charge! :~)
ReplyDeleteYou go, girl!
ReplyDelete