Sonata per archi

The String Sonata No. 1, commonly referred to by its original Italian name Sonata per archi, is a composition for string orchestra by German composer Hans Werner Henze. It was composed between 1957 and 1958.

Composition[]

The sonata was commissioned by Paul Sacher for his own orchestra, the , together with his Double Concerto for Oboe, Harp and Strings, and was written between 1957 and early 1958. According to Henze, it was influenced by an earlier idea of , the librettist of Henze's König Hirsch, for a ballet about the . It was premiered by Paul Sacher in Zurich on March 21, 1958. It was dedicated to Paul Sacher and his wife, ^[1] and was later published by Boosey & Hawkes.^[2]

Structure[]

The sonata is in two movements and has a total duration of 15 minutes. The movement list is as follows:

• 1. Allegro
• 2. 32 Variations
  • Thema. Mosso
  • Variation I. Adagio
  • Variation II. Più mosso
  • Variation III. Lo stesso tempo
  • Variation IV. Molto calmo
  • Variation V. Lo stesso tempo, con tenerezza
  • Variation VI. Assai mosso, con vigore
  • Variation VII. Meno mosso, leggiero
  • Variation VIII. Ancora meno
  • Variation IX. Con moto
  • Variation X. Più mosso
  • Variation XI. Molto più mosso, appassionato
  • Variation XII. Mesto
  • Variation XIII. Un poco più mosso
  • Variation XIV. Lo stesso tempo (estremamente piano)
  • Variation XV. Ancora calmo
  • Variation XVI. Con fuoco
  • Variation XVII. Veloce
  • Variation XVIII. Lo stesso tempo
  • Variation XIX. Lo stesso tempo
  • Variation XX. Ritardando
  • Variation XXI. Di nuovo assai mosso
  • Variation XXII. Di più
  • Variation XXIII. Leggiero
  • Variation XXIV. Meno mosso
  • Variation XXV. Furioso
  • Variation XXVI. Molto più lento
  • Variation XXVII. Molto meno mosso ancora
  • Variation XXVIII. Subito più mosso
  • Variation XXIX. Sostenuto
  • Variation XXX. Grave (Lamentandosi)
  • Variation XXXI. ♩. = 76
  • Variation XXXII. ♩ = 60

Its structure is nothing like a traditional sonata and displays the composer's distinctive serialist style. The first movement consists of a five-minute Stravinskian toccata, with plenty neo-classical features. It starts in E minor, but modulates in minor-third oscillations. The second movement is presumably influenced by Beethoven and consists of a set of attacca variations which are very difficult to distinguish by ear.^[1] It is scored for eight first violins, six second violins, four violas , four celli and two double basses.^[3]

Notable recordings[]

• Paul Sacher conducted the in August 1967. The recording was released by Deutsche Grammophon both in LP and CD format.^[4]

References[]