Francis Jean Marcel Poulenc’s wealthy family intended he pursue a business career and did not allow him to enroll at a music college. Largely self-educated musically, he studied with the pianist Ricardo Viñes, who became his mentor after the composer's parents died. Poulenc soon came under the influence of Erik Satie, and became one of a group of young composers known collectively as Les Six. In his early works, Poulenc was known for his high spirits and irreverence.
He discarded two violin sonatas before he completed this one, which itself was a long time in reaching its final form. He composed it in 1942 and 1943 for the magnificent young French violinist Ginette Neveu, who lost her life in a plane crash at the age of thirty in 1949. Poulenc decided to revise the sonata in the year of her death, making most of the changes in the last movement. The sonata also recalls the composer’s memory of the great Spanish poet Federico García Lorca (1899-1936), who was shot by the Fascist Falangists soon after the outbreak of civil war in his country.
The sonata is a melodic work infused with tragedy that is expressed in the opening Allegro con fuoco in a musical language related to that of the best known French sonata, one composed by César Franck. The second movement, an Intermezzo, is headed by a quotation from García Lorca, “The guitar makes dreams weep,” an allusion to the poet’s own arrangements of Spanish folk and popular songs. The third movement carries the uncommon indication, Presto tragico. The beat is very fast and the mood tragic as the sonata moves on lyrically to its close.Naria Kim
Classical Music | Violin Music
Francis Poulenc
Violin Sonata, FP 119 Play
Recorded on 12/23/2015, uploaded on 07/27/2016
Musician's or Publisher's Notes
Francis Jean Marcel Poulenc’s wealthy family intended he pursue a business career and did not allow him to enroll at a music college. Largely self-educated musically, he studied with the pianist Ricardo Viñes, who became his mentor after the composer's parents died. Poulenc soon came under the influence of Erik Satie, and became one of a group of young composers known collectively as Les Six. In his early works, Poulenc was known for his high spirits and irreverence.
He discarded two violin sonatas before he completed this one, which itself was a long time in reaching its final form. He composed it in 1942 and 1943 for the magnificent young French violinist Ginette Neveu, who lost her life in a plane crash at the age of thirty in 1949. Poulenc decided to revise the sonata in the year of her death, making most of the changes in the last movement. The sonata also recalls the composer’s memory of the great Spanish poet Federico García Lorca (1899-1936), who was shot by the Fascist Falangists soon after the outbreak of civil war in his country.
The sonata is a melodic work infused with tragedy that is expressed in the opening Allegro con fuoco in a musical language related to that of the best known French sonata, one composed by César Franck. The second movement, an Intermezzo, is headed by a quotation from García Lorca, “The guitar makes dreams weep,” an allusion to the poet’s own arrangements of Spanish folk and popular songs. The third movement carries the uncommon indication, Presto tragico. The beat is very fast and the mood tragic as the sonata moves on lyrically to its close. Naria Kim
More music by Francis Poulenc
Sonata for Flute and Piano
Sonata for Cello and Piano
Hommage à Edith Piaf
Piano Concerto in C sharp minor, FP 146
Three Novelettes for piano
Mon cadavre est doux comme un gant, from Fiançailles pour rire
Les soirées de Nazelles
Fiançailles pour Rire
Les chemins de l'amour
Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra
Performances by same musician(s)
Nocturne Op. 51, No. 3
Sonata for Violin and Piano
Classical Music for the Internet Era™
Courtesy of International Music Foundation.