Violin Sonata in B minor (Respighi)

The Violin Sonata in B minor, P 110, is a sonata for violin and piano by Italian composer Ottorino Respighi, completed in 1917. It is one of Respighi's major large-scale chamber works.

Violin Sonata
by Ottorino Respighi
Key	B minor
Catalogue	P 110
Composed	1917
Performed	3 March 1918 in Bologna
Published	1919
Movements	3
Scoring	violin and piano

Background

Respighi's Violin Sonata was composed in 1917 and is contemporary with one of his major works, Fontane di Roma.[1] It was premiered in Bologna on March 3, 1918, by Respighi's old teacher Federico Sarti and Respighi himself at the piano. This sonata was dedicated to Ernesto Consolo and Arrigo Serato and was published by Casa Ricordi in Milano in 1919 and again in 1947.[2] After its initial publication, the sonata gained international notoriety.[3]

Structure

The sonata is divided into three movements and has a duration of around 25 minutes. The movements are untitled, except for the third movement, which is a set of 20 variations on an ostinato-like accompaniment. The movement list is as follows:

1. Moderato – . = 108 – Agitato – Più vivo – Agitato come prima – Tempo I (Moderato) – . = 104 – Calmo e molto meno mosso
2. Andante espressivo – Appassionato – Poco più mosso – Tempo I
3. Passacaglia. Allegro moderato ma energico – Più mosso – Ancora più mosso – Allegro molto e appassionato – Appassionato e meno allegro – Vivacissimo – Più presto – . = 108 – Più sostenuto (come al principio) – Lento – Andante espressivo – Lento e pesante – Molto allegro e agitato – Largamente – Allegro vivo

The sonata is known for its demanding violin and piano parts and its complex tonal system. Rhythm patterns are also very complex, as time signatures do not always match.[4] For example, the melody in the second movement is first played by the piano in ⁴
₄, whereas the accompaniment has a time signature of ¹⁰
₈.

References

1. "RAVEL, M.: Violin Sonata / RESPIGHI, O.: Violin Sonata / GRANADOS, E.: Violin Sonata (Saeijs, Bueren)". www.naxos.com. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
2. Respighi, Ottorino (1947). Sonata in si minore per violino e pianoforte. Milano: Ricordi.
3. "Violin Sonata in B minor (Respighi) - from SIGCD376 - Hyperion Records - MP3 and Lossless downloads". www.hyperion-records.co.uk. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
4. "RESPIGHI, O.: Violin and Piano Works (Complete), Vol. 2 / PICK-MANGIAGALLI, R.: Violin and Piano Works (Complete) (Bernecoli, Bianchi)". www.naxos.com. Retrieved 30 April 2020.