ExclusiveBrahms: Violin sonata no. 3 in D minor, Op. 108, 2/4. Adagio

【Classical music and nature 古典音樂小站】Johannes Brahms: Violin sonata no. 3 in D minor, Op. 108, 2/4 Adagio. This beautiful piece was played by Oliver Colbentson. It has common licence (Public Domain Mark 1.0 Universal) and is provided through musopen.org.

The third sonata for violin and piano is, unlike the previous two, in four movements. It was the next chamber work to follow the trilogy of 1887. A work of extreme concision and drama, it contrasts starkly with the other two sonatas. The structures are so lean and direct that, despite the “extra” movement, the sonata is no longer than the others. Although in many ways recalling the passionate exuberance of some of Brahms’s youthful works, its economy of means and direct argument create a work that is a fine example of the latest style. The structure is somewhat similar to that of the third piano trio, Op. 101, which also has brief middle movements, a dramatic, tightly constructed first movement, and an intense scherzo-like finale. The first movement begins almost in mid-thought, with no preliminaries to the tragic, insistent main theme. Its development section is particularly remarkable, being completely built over a constantly and regularly reiterated single note. The second movement is an instrumental song of great beauty that almost seems too short. The third movement is similar to other “intermezzo” types Brahms often placed in this position. It manages to maintain a secretive playfulness despite its minor key. The finale gives the impression of being romantic and unrestrained, but indeed, it is just as carefully and economically constructed as the rest of the sonata. As in the other two violin sonatas, the first movement has no exposition repeat.

The sea of fog was filmed last autumn by Simone Schlegel and the video was edited by Wenjing Ma.



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