Classical Music | Piano Music

Recorded on 02/20/2007, uploaded on 01/25/2009

Musician's or Publisher's Notes

Sonata No. 7 in F-flat Major, Op. 83              Sergei Prokofiev

Allegro inquieto; Andante caloroso; Precipitato

Prokofiev's reading of Romain Rolland's book on Beethoven strongly influenced his sixth, seventh and eighth sonatas, works that he wrote simultaneously.  He completed Sonata No.7 in 1942 and it was first performed the following year by Sviatoslav Richter. Richter wrote of the disorder and uncertainty of death-dealing forces in the sonata set alongside the continuation of what man lives for-love and the affirmation of life.

The first movement starts with an unharmonized opening phrase, suggesting in its conclusion the tonality of B-flat. Before long, two strands of melody diverge, leading to syncopations of greater stridency. A secondary theme appears in an Andantino section of the first movement. The second movement is in E Major, now with a key signature, a feature absent in the first movement. A singing melody in an inner part leads to a central section of varied tonalities and textures, before the final return of the material of the opening. The sonata ends with a movement in 7/8 meter, perceived as 2+3+2. Marked Precipitato, the material is dominated by its asymmetrical rhythmic pattern, and the movement ends in a final affirmative and unambiguous B-flat Major.       Michael Cansfield

Courtesy of International Music Foundation.