Bohuslav Martinů
Bohuslav Jan Martinů (; December 8, 1890 – August 28, 1959) was a Czech composer of modern classical music. He wrote 6 symphony, symphonies, 15 operas, 14 ballet scores and a large body of orchestral, chamber music, chamber, vocal and ins ...
's Sonata for Flute and Piano,
H. 306, was composed in 1945 in
South Orleans,
Cape Cod
Cape Cod is a peninsula extending into the Atlantic Ocean from the southeastern corner of Massachusetts, in the northeastern United States. Its historic, maritime character and ample beaches attract heavy tourism during the summer months. The ...
,
during the composer's five years in the USA following his escape from
occupied France
The Military Administration in France (; ) was an interim occupation authority established by Nazi Germany during World War II to administer the occupied zone in areas of northern and western France. This so-called ' was established in June 19 ...
. The work was composed for George Laurent who was the principal flute of the
Boston Symphony Orchestra
The Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) is an American orchestra based in Boston. It is the second-oldest of the five major American symphony orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five (orchestras), Big Five". Founded by Henry Lee Higginson in ...
from 1918 to 1952. It was premiered on 18 December 1949 in New York, with Lois Scheafer as soloist. Although Martinu originally entitled the work as his 'First Sonata for Flute and Piano', no Second Sonata ever appeared.
Movements
The sonata is composed in three movements:
* I. Allegro moderato
* II. Adagio
* III. Allegro poco moderato
Description
The outer movements are notably rhythmic, with the intervening adagio movement more melancholy and lyrical in nature. The inspiration for the theme of the third movement draws from Martinů's experience nursing an injured
whippoorwill back to health in Cape Cod. The bird's song is recalled in the music.
References
;Notes
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{{Bohuslav Martinů
Martinu
Chamber music by Bohuslav Martinů
1945 compositions