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Piano Sonata No 4 (op.22) (8’25’’), composed in Walton-On-Thames in 1972, England, is in one continuous movement which falls into two sections, one relatively long, the other short.
The sonata commences with a brief rhythmical introduction that anticipates the work’s main theme marked appassionato e con molto espressivo. During the course of the work the melodic elements of this theme undergo many transformations. A jaunty second subject, marked ritmico, is introduced well into the exposition, followed by a brief ‘rounding-off’ theme. The development section sees the two main ideas contrasted, varied and combined. Both themes are recalled in the recapitulation, although in reverse order.
The second section, which follows without a pause, is marked largo and begins with a sextuplet figure in the right hand with gentle fragments of melody in the left. These fragments soon give way to an idea derived from the sonata’s second subject, the mood increasingly expressive, at times transcendental. This highly expressive mood is suddenly interrupted by the reappearance of the sonata’s rhythmical opening bars, followed by the ‘rounding off’ theme heard at the end of the first section’s exposition. The sonata closes gently with the main theme recalled in long semibreve notes over a G sharp pedal point.
Piano Sonata No 4 is probably the composer’s most brittle piano work, and, not surprisingly, has a decidedly quirky character.
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Walton on Thames
United Kingdom