César Franck: Sonate: Violin

Japanese composer Kishio Hirao (1907-1953) first studied medicine before changing to music. His 1947 Sonate for Violin and Piano is a challenging yet exciting addition to the repertoire. Hirao moved to Paris where he studied harmony counterpoint and composition at the Ecole César Franck. The Sonate is in three movements; 1) Moderato-Allegro Agitato 2) Andante and 3) Vivacissimo. The work is in F major with the middle movement modulating to D major however tonality is substantially exploited. For all advanced violinists and pianists Hirao's Sonate for Violin and Piano is a riveting addition to the repertoire.

Version for Violoncello-César Franck's Sonata For Piano And Violin In A. Urtext edition for Cello.Unlike some of his other late works Franck?s Violin Sonata (HN293) composed in 1886 was well-received by thepublic and critics from the very start. The beautiful arrangement for Cello published in January 1888 distinguishes itself from the numerous other arrangements in that Franck expressly authorised it.The cellistJules Delsart who had heard a performance of the sonata in Paris in December 1887 was so delighted by it that he asked Franck?s permission to make a transcription of the Violin part for his own instrument. Delsartremained close to the original; he left the Piano part unaltered and transposed the Violin part only where necessary and appropriate into the lower register.

for Violoncello and Piano-Cesar Franck?s Sonata for Piano and Violin is one of the most treasured works in the Violin repertoire a masterpiece of cyclic form with a gracefulness and expressive force almost paradigmatic for the age of musical Romanticism. This work was composed in 1886 and was dedicated to the Belgian violinist and composer Eugène Ysaÿe.Franck?s friend the cellist Jules Desart was so impressed when he heard the Violin Sonata performed at the Société nationale de musique in Paris that he adapted the work for his instrument. This arrangement was first published in 1887 by inserting the Cello part into the Piano score of the original edition. For this purpose thePiano score had received a new cover and the publisher had expanded the title of the composition to ?Sonate pour Piano et Violon ou Violoncelle?. This version by the cellist Jules Delsart for Piano and Violoncello is the only arrangement of the work authorized by the composer and its first edition represents the main source for Bärenreiter?s new scholarly-critical publication.This Barenreiter edition also includes a separate movement ?Mélancolie? first published after Franck?s death in 1911 again for the same instrumentation Piano and Violin or Violoncello. This short piece is based on a solfège exercise and was written at the height of the composer?s creative powers at about the same time as his famous Violin sonata.The edition is rounded off by an informative text on the genesis and reception history of the two compositions (Ger/Fr/Eng) a complete list of sources editorial notes and a Critical Commentary (Eng).Pioneering new Urtext editionInformative text on the genesis and reception history of the two compositions (Ger/Fr/Eng)Detailed Critical Commentary (Eng)Also available:Sonata; Andantino quietoso Op.6; Mélancolie for Piano & Violin BA9425.Sonata arranged for Piano & Viola BA10918.Sonata in A major arranged for Piano & Flute BA8734