Program Notes:
Piano Sonata Op.27, No.2
Beethoven'sPianoSonataOp.27,No.2,alsoknownasthe"MoonlightSonata,"isoneofthe mostfamousandbelovedpianosonatasintheclassicalrepertoire.Thesonataconsistsofthree movements.
Thefirstmovementisperhapsthemostrecognizable,withitshauntinglybeautifulmelodyand flowingarpeggiosinthelefthand.Itismarked"Adagiosostenuto,"whichmeansslowand sustained.Thismovementisoftenassociatedwiththemoonlight,hencethenickname "MoonlightSonata."
Thesecondmovement,marked"Allegretto,"ismoreplayfulanddance-likeincharacter.It providesacontrasttothefirstmovementandgivesthelisteneramomentofrespitebeforethe stormyfinalmovement.
Thethirdmovement,marked"Prestoagitato,"isavirtuosictour-de-forceforthepianist.Itisfull ofenergyandintensity,withfastrunsandsuddendynamicchanges.Itprovidesathrilling conclusiontothesonata.
Etude Op.8, No.5
AlexanderScriabin's12Etudes,Op.8,isasetofvirtuosicandexpressivepianoworks thatshowcasethecomposer'suniquestyleandtechnique.Thesetwascomposedin 1894-95,whenScriabinwasinhismid-twenties.Itwashisfirstpublishedworkand establishedhisreputationasacomposer.
Eachetudeisaself-containedmusicalpiece,ranginginlengthfromonetofiveminutes. Theyarecharacterizedbyrapidfingerwork,complexharmonies,andinnovativeuseof chromaticismanddissonance.
Theetudesarenotarrangedinaspecifickeyorder,buttheyaregroupedaccordingto theirtechnicalandexpressivechallenges.Forexample,thefirstfouretudesareoften playedtogetherasasetbecausetheyareallinfasttempoandrequirenimblefingerwork.
TheetudeNo.5ismarked"Allegromoderato"andisinthekeyofEmajor.Itis characterizedbyarapidandflowingright-handmelodyaccompaniedbybrokenchords inthelefthand.
Atthesametime,theetudeisalsodeeplyexpressive,withmomentsoflyricalbeautyand poignantemotion.Scriabinwasknownforhismysticalandesotericbeliefs,andthis piecereflectshisinterestinthespiritualandmetaphysicalaspectsofmusic.
Dumka
"Dumka"wascomposedbyPyotrIlyichTchaikovskyforpianoin1886.Theword "Dumka"originatesfromtheUkrainianlanguage,meaning"athought"or"areverie." ThecompositionisasetofvariationsonaSlavicfolkthemethatalternatesbetween livelydance-likepassagesandmomentsofintrospectionandcontemplation
Tchaikovsky's"Dumka"isauniqueworkinthecomposer'srepertoire,asitdeviatesfrom hisusualgrandioseanddramaticstyle Itisanintimateandexpressivepiecethat showcasesTchaikovsky'sskillincreatingmusicallandscapesthatevokearangeof emotions.
Ofparticularinterest,"Dumka"isthatTchaikovskywasinspiredbythetraditional UkrainianfolkmusicthatheencounteredduringatriptoKyivin1885 Hewasstruckby thebeautyandsharpnessofthemusic,whichledhimtoincorporateUkrainianand Russianfolkelementsintohiscomposition.Anotherfascinatingaspectof"Dumka"is thatitreflectsTchaikovsky'spersonalstrugglesandemotionalturmoil.Thepiecehas beendescribedasamusicalrepresentationofthecomposer'sinnerconflictbetweenhis desireforhappinessandhistendencytowardsmelancholy
Guitare, Op.32
CécileChaminadewasaFrenchcomposerandpianistwhoachievedconsiderablesuccess inherlifetime,particularlyinthelate19thandearly20thcenturies.Herfamilyinitially discouragedherfrompursuingacareerinmusic.Still,sheeventuallygainedthesupport ofinfluentialmusiciansandpatronsandbecameoneofthemostpopularandsuccessful composersofhertime Chaminade'smusicischaracterizedbyitselegance,charm,and melodicgrace Shewasparticularlyrenownedforhercharacterpiecesforthepiano, whichoftenfeaturedcatchymelodies,livelyrhythms,andcolorfulharmonies. Guitare wasfirstpublishedin1885.Asthetitlesuggests, Guitare ischaracterizedbya guitar-likemelodythroughoutthepiece.ThispiecewasinspiredbytheSpanishguitar. It notonlyhasadelicatemelody,butalsothewildcolorsofSpanishmusic.Chaminade usesarpeggiationtoimitatethesoundsofstrummingontheGuitar.Theoverallmoodof thepieceislightandcheerful.
Dreaming, Op.15 No.3
AmyBeachwasanAmericancomposerandpianist,oneofthefirstAmericanwomento achieveinternationalrecognitionasacomposer Afterhermarriage,shewasonlyallowedto givetwoconcertsyearlyandhadtodonateallherproceedstocharity.
Thetitle"Dreaming"suggestsadreamlikeorreflectivemood,andthemusicreflectsthis withitspassiveandcontemplativecharacter.Thepiecehasatagline,“Youspeaktomefrom thedepthsofdreams.”
Oneofthemoststrikingfeaturesof Dreaming isitsuseofchromaticharmoniesandsubtle modulations,whichcreateasenseofshiftingtonalitiesandadreamlikesenseoffluidity.The harmoniesareoftenlushandrich,withunexpecteddissonancesandpoignantresolutions.
Thepiecereachesaclimaxinthemiddlesection,wherethemelodybecomesmoreintense andpassionate,andtheharmoniesbecomemorecomplexanddissonant.Thissectionbuilds toapowerfulclimaxbeforesubsidingbackintothegentleopeningtheme.
Piano Sonata No.7 in B-flat major, Op. 83
Prokofiev'sexperiencesinspiredthisSonataduringWorldWarII:ProkofievwrotetheSeventh SonatawhilelivinginPerm,acityintheUralMountainsofRussia,wherehehadbeen evacuatedduringthewar.HebeganworkontheSonatain1939andcompleteditin1942.The difficultlivingconditionsandisolationinPerminfluencedthemoodandcharacteroftheSonata, whichismarkedbyasenseofurgency,restlessness,andemotionalintensity.Somecriticshave interpretedtheSeventhSonataasareflectionofProkofiev'spersonallife,particularlyhis strainedrelationshipwithhiswifeandhisfeelingsofisolationanddespair Thefirstmovement,Allegroinquieto,isinclassicalsonataform.Theopeningthemeisvery nervousandsuspenseful.Therhythmofthesecondthemesoftenedbutdoesnotbreakthe tension.Thesecond,Andantecaloroso,isinEmajor.Theopeningmelodyisbeautifulbut dreary.However,thecalmwasshort-livedandsoonbrokenbydissonantintervalsandchords, takingpeoplefromdreamstoreality.ThePrecipitatofinale,atoccata,ismarkedbyits propulsiverhythmandintenseenergy.Thelefthandoftenrepeatsapatternthatcreatesasenseof urgencyandrestlessness.
SviatoslavRichter (whopremieredtheSonata)wrote:“Wearebrutallyplungedintothe anxiouslythreateningatmosphereofaworldthathaslostitsbalance.Chaosanduncertainty reign.Weseemurderousforcesahead.Butthisdoesnotmeanthatwhatwelivedbybefore therebyceasestoexist.Wecontinuetofeelandlove.Nowthefullrangeofhumanemotions burstsforth.Togetherwithourfellowmenandwomen,weraiseavoiceinprotestandsharethe commongrief.Wesweepeverythingbeforeus,bornealongbythewillofvictory.Inthe tremendousstrugglethatthisinvolves,wefindthestrengthtoaffirmtheirrepressiblelifeforce.”