The Piano Sonata in B-flat minor is a work written by
Julius Reubke
Friedrich Julius Reubke (23 March 18343 June 1858) was a German composer, pianist and organist. In his short life, he composed the ''Sonata on the 94th Psalm'' in C minor, which is considered to be one of the greatest organ works in the classical ...
between December 1856 and March 1857. Although it remains very obscure and is little performed (unlike the composer's ''
Sonata on the 94th Psalm
The Sonata on the 94th Psalm in C minor is a sonata for solo organ by Julius Reubke, based on the text of Psalm 94. It is considered one of the pinnacles of the Romantic repertoire.
It is in three movements:
* I. Grave - Larghetto - Allegro ...
'' for organ), it combines the
Lisztian technique of thematic transformation, colourful harmonies, virtuosic piano writing and a wide array of characters and sentiments.
The sonata was published posthumously, edited by the composer's brother, in 1871.
Description
The work opens with an Allegro maestoso, characterised by a dramatic, rising ''forte'' first subject. This rising motif (a minor semitone followed by a major third jump), is a significant theme of the movement, recalled at various points throughout (including the cadenza-like passagework). The main theme is built over a chordal structure of i, bII6, viio7, i4-3, v, and VI6/4. The work has other, similarly interesting modulations, presented as undecorated chordal series. The second theme, marked ''Quasi Recitativo'' is written in a free and vocal style. Its melancholy second subject, in the distant key of E major, recalls something of Reubke's own sadly short life.
[See score at IMSLP. See also .]
References
Further reading
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External links
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{{Authority control
1857 compositions
Reubke
Compositions by Julius Reubke
Compositions in B-flat minor