Piano Sonata (Barber)

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The Piano Sonata op. 26 in E flat minor is considered the most important piano work by Samuel Barber and is his only piano sonata . It has a total duration of about 20 minutes and was premiered on December 9, 1949 by Vladimir Horowitz .

analysis

Typical for Barber, an attempt to integrate tradition and avant-garde can be seen in this sonata in many ways: it is traditionally made up of four movements, but with strong deviations in the form of the individual movements. It is characterized by a highly free-tonal tonal language, for the most part keys can be determined, partly despite the use of twelve-tone rows. Each movement has its main time signature , but also many unusual time changes.

Allegro energico

The first movement in 4/4 time follows a sonata form in the broader sense. The main theme is in E flat minor and is characterized by the dotted rhythm and a small second step down. The secondary theme is in a somewhat uncertain C minor, the minor parallel of the major variant of E flat minor and is accompanied by a twelfth tonostinato from eighth sextoles. After the side complex there is an elaboration that is longer than the later development between the exposition and recapitulation . This is followed by a final group in which the C minor of the secondary theme is clearly confirmed. This turns into a short, more lively development in 3/8 time, which leads directly into the huge recapitulation of the main theme. The recapitulation is very similar to the exposition, with the difference that E flat minor is no longer left and the development is omitted. The final group is lengthened by a short coda in which various motifs from a quarter-ostinato appear again. The movement ends with a short, last, fortissimo raising of the main motif .

Allegro vivace e leggero

The second movement in the fast 6/8 time is in G major and takes on the role of a scherzo . It is by far the shortest movement in terms of time and has a much easier character than the rest of the sonata. The A section is characterized by continuous eighth note movements, a B section in C major strikes a waltz, which is repeatedly destroyed by inserted 4/4 bars. With a final arpeggio, the movement in the treble disappears.

Adagio mesto

The third movement is also in 6/8 time, but according to Barber's metronome markings it is about ten times slower than the second. It pervades as a basic building block of four excessive triads composite tone row . The key is difficult to determine, but it ends in B minor.

Allegro con spirito

A highly virtuoso fugue forms the final movement . Here Barber makes use of many contrapuntal techniques, including inversion, double and quadruple augmentation and narrowing , which he takes to extremes towards the end of the movement with twelve inserts shifted by only one eighth.

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Maxi Einenkel: Fabulous things from the New World. In: Klassik.com magazine. Retrieved March 9, 2016 .