Viola Sonatas

[LeMartinPecheur]

How about Ligeti's Sonata for solo viola? A fine work.

[Edgy 2]

Just had a quick look through my shelves and realise I've got viola sonatas by -

Lennox Berkley and Gordon Jacob (on the same Naxos cd as the Malcolm Arnold)
Glinka and Roslavets (couplings with Bashmet DSCH)
Granville Bantock (played by Ruper Marshall-Luck on Holst's viola)

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

And then, of course, there's always:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mI-wlmMNU6c

[kea]

Hindemith's Op. 11 no. 4 was the one I was going to suggest as well—probably one of his best and most inspired works overall. There's also one by Ligeti from his late, neo-Bartókian period if one's into that sort of thing, and two by Roslavets, and one by Koechlin. And undoubtedly many others I'm unaware of.

I suppose the Clarke sonata is "the" masterpiece—beats Ravel at his own (stylistic) game. That said there are also plenty of works for solo viola/viola and piano that are not titled "sonatas", but equally valuable.

[Rolmill]

In addition to the lovely disc by Paul Coletti referenced by fhg above, I have an excellent double album from EM Records of Louise Williams playing a number of British viola sonatas - including those by Bax, Rawsthorne, Elizabeth Maconchy and John McEwen, as well as pieces by Milford, Jacob and Leighton. I particularly enjoy the Bax and Maconchy sonatas, and the Jacobs' sonatina.

James Boyd's disc of the two York Bowen sonatas on Dutton is very fine and the incomparable Yuri Bashmet's complete RCA recordings box includes sonatas by Glinka and Roslavets, as well as the Shostakovich (ah, beaten to the draw on this one).

I am very partial to the viola sound, though as an ex-clarinettist I have to say (and mean it!) that I prefer the woodwind version of the Brahms sonatas...

[Edgy 2]

In addition to the lovely disc by Paul Coletti referenced by fhg above, I have an excellent double album from EM Records of Louise Williams playing a number of British viola sonatas - including those by Bax, Rawsthorne, Elizabeth Maconchy and John McEwen, as well as pieces by Milford, Jacob and Leighton. I particularly enjoy the Bax and Maconchy sonatas, and the Jacobs' sonatina.

James Boyd's disc of the two York Bowen sonatas on Dutton is very fine and the incomparable Yuri Bashmet's complete RCA recordings box includes sonatas by Glinka and Roslavets, as well as the Shostakovich (ah, beaten to the draw on this one).

I am very partial to the viola sound, though as an ex-clarinettist I have to say (and mean it!) that I prefer the woodwind version of the Brahms sonatas...

Oh yes I’ve got that EM disc somewhere too and another with Cyril Scott’s Sonata.

[visualnickmos]

There's actually quite a lot though, especially since the early 20th century. Otherwise, sorry to go off the sonata topic, but here is a wonderful live performance of what I think is the first concerto written for it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WX4W...&start_radio=1

Thanks - that is good news. I now need to investigate - especially 20th century coposers.....

[LMcD]

Telemann: Concerto in G Major, of which there are several recordings.

[kea]

Thanks - that is good news. I now need to investigate - especially 20th century coposers.....

Some of the other significant 20th century works: Pierluigi Billone's ITI KE MI, Kurtág's 9 Pieces for Viola (and Hommage à R. Sch. for viola, clarinet and piano), Horațiu Rădulescu's Das Andere, Gérard Grisey's Prologue, and.... probably a lot more stuff I'm too tired to think of at the moment.

[visualnickmos]

Some of the other significant 20th century works: Pierluigi Billone's ITI KE MI, Kurtág's 9 Pieces for Viola (and Hommage à R. Sch. for viola, clarinet and piano), Horațiu Rădulescu's Das Andere, Gérard Grisey's Prologue, and.... probably a lot more stuff I'm too tired to think of at the moment.

Thank you - that's a good afternoon's detective work for me to follow-up.

[Jonathan]

I have 2 recordings of Anton Rubinstein's Sonata, Op.49. I rather like it.

[Stanfordian]

I have 2 recordings of Anton Rubinstein's Sonata, Op.49. I rather like it.

Hiya Jonathan,

I agree the Viola Sonata, Op. 49 is a fine work. I have the recording by Karel Dolezal on Arta.

[Jonathan]

Different one to both of mine Stanfordian! I have Pierre Franck and Dana Ciocarie (which includes Rubinstein's huge 3rd violin Sonata - a most interesting and complex work) and a Russian disc with Fedor Druzhinin. It actually turns out I have 3 recordings, the third is Jan Talich and Stanislav Bogunia on Approache. No idea I had 3 recordings until then!!

[Pulcinella]

In addition to the lovely disc by Paul Coletti referenced by fhg above, I have an excellent double album from EM Records of Louise Williams playing a number of British viola sonatas - including those by Bax, Rawsthorne, Elizabeth Maconchy and John McEwen, as well as pieces by Milford, Jacob and Leighton. I particularly enjoy the Bax and Maconchy sonatas, and the Jacobs' sonatina.

James Boyd's disc of the two York Bowen sonatas on Dutton is very fine and the incomparable Yuri Bashmet's complete RCA recordings box includes sonatas by Glinka and Roslavets, as well as the Shostakovich (ah, beaten to the draw on this one).

I am very partial to the viola sound, though as an ex-clarinettist I have to say (and mean it!) that I prefer the woodwind version of the Brahms sonatas...

Just realised that I have the Bax on a Naxos CD:

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/7950623--bax-viola-sonata-legend-trio-in-one-movement-concerto-piece

[Stanfordian]

Different one to both of mine Stanfordian! I have Pierre Franck and Dana Ciocarie (which includes Rubinstein's huge 3rd violin Sonata - a most interesting and complex work) and a Russian disc with Fedor Druzhinin. It actually turns out I have 3 recordings, the third is Jan Talich and Stanislav Bogunia on Approache. No idea I had 3 recordings until then!!

Hiya Jonathan,

I mean the viola sonata, Op. 49 - I think its one of his finest chamber works. You are referring to the 3 violin sonatas.