Benjamin Britten is perhaps best-known for his operatic contribution to 20th century music, most notably Peter Grimes, Billy Budd and the choral masterpiece, The War Requiem.The phenomenal tenor and Britten´s partner for decades, Peter Pears, was the inspiration for numerous works and operatic roles.Another inspiration came in the form of a great friendship with Mstislav Rostropovich, one of the greatest cellists of the 20th century, who inspired Britten to write three suites for solo cello, a Cello Symphony, and the work on today´s program.
To name a piece “Sonata in C” in the 1960s is quite a bold statement when the rest of the music community is busily claiming the death of 19th century tonality and writing music in tone-rows.Although this piece is far away from the harmonic language of 19th century romanticists, it nevertheless has a natural tendency towards conventional dominant-tonic harmony.
Each of the five movements is no longer than a pop song, and each of them explores a different character or mood.The first, Dialogo, is a dialogue between the cello and piano which bursts into argument, but ends in bliss. The second is a quirky scherzo in which the cello never uses the bow, but only plucks the strings of the instrument.The third is a devastating elegy followed by a rollicking march (which always reminds me a little of the theme song to the TV show The Addams Family) and the piece ends with an exciting Moto Perpetuo.Saeunn Thorsteinsdottir
Classical Music | Cello Music
Benjamin Britten
Cello Sonata in C major, Op. 65 Play
Recorded on 12/19/2012, uploaded on 05/29/2013
Musician's or Publisher's Notes
Benjamin Britten is perhaps best-known for his operatic contribution to 20th century music, most notably Peter Grimes, Billy Budd and the choral masterpiece, The War Requiem. The phenomenal tenor and Britten´s partner for decades, Peter Pears, was the inspiration for numerous works and operatic roles. Another inspiration came in the form of a great friendship with Mstislav Rostropovich, one of the greatest cellists of the 20th century, who inspired Britten to write three suites for solo cello, a Cello Symphony, and the work on today´s program.
To name a piece “Sonata in C” in the 1960s is quite a bold statement when the rest of the music community is busily claiming the death of 19th century tonality and writing music in tone-rows. Although this piece is far away from the harmonic language of 19th century romanticists, it nevertheless has a natural tendency towards conventional dominant-tonic harmony.
Each of the five movements is no longer than a pop song, and each of them explores a different character or mood. The first, Dialogo, is a dialogue between the cello and piano which bursts into argument, but ends in bliss. The second is a quirky scherzo in which the cello never uses the bow, but only plucks the strings of the instrument. The third is a devastating elegy followed by a rollicking march (which always reminds me a little of the theme song to the TV show The Addams Family) and the piece ends with an exciting Moto Perpetuo. Saeunn Thorsteinsdottir
More music by Benjamin Britten
Phantasy Quartet, Op. 2
Procession
That Yonge Child
Lachrymae, Op. 48
Let the florid music praise!, from On This Island, Op. 11
On This Island
Now the leaves are falling fast, from On This Island, Op. 11
Spring Carol
Seascape, from On This Island, Op. 11
This Little Babe
Performances by same musician(s)
Theme and Seven Variations on "Bei Mannern" from Mozart's The Magic Flute, WoO 46
Variations on a Theme by Rossini
Classical Music for the Internet Era™
Courtesy of International Music Foundation.