Violin Sonatas, Op. 137 (Schubert)

Three compositions by Franz Schubert

In 1816, Franz Schubert composed his first three violin sonatas, D 384, 385 and 408. They were published after the composer's death as Sonatinas in 1836 (Op. posth. 137). These sonatas breathe an intimate atmosphere, requiring relatively little virtuoso bravura from their performers.

History

Schubert was an accomplished violinist and had already extensively composed for violin, including over a dozen string quartets, by the time he started to write violin sonatas at age 19. The compositions for violin and piano D 384, 385 and 408 were named Sonata in Schubert's autographs. They were named Sonatina when published posthumously as Op. 137 in 1836.

Structure

Since Schubert's Sonatas Op. 137 are modest in size—rather to be compared to Mozart's violin sonatas than to Beethoven's—the "Sonatina" diminutive stuck to them. They are works form the Classical period but Schubert would later transition into the Romantic period through his lieder.

No. 1 in D major, D 384

Three Sonat(in)as, Op. 137 D 384: In D major, No. 1

D 385: In A minor, No. 2

D 408: In G minor, No. 3

All performed by Dénes Zsigmondy (violin) and Anneliese Nissen (piano)

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Schubert wrote "März 1816" (March 1816) on the autograph score of his Sonata for Violin and Piano in D major (D 384). The sonata has three movements:

Allegro molto
Andante
Allegro vivace

No. 2 in A minor, D 385

Titled "Sonata II" and dated March 1816 in the autograph, the Sonata for Violin and Piano in A minor (D 385) has four movements:

Allegro moderato
Andante
Menuetto: Allegro
Allegro

No. 3 in G minor, D 408

Schubert dated the Sonata for Violin and Piano in G minor (D 408) April 1816 in the autograph, and titled it "Sonata III". The sonata has four movements:

Allegro giusto
Andante
Menuetto: Allegro vivace
Allegro moderato

Reception

The publication of Schubert's works for violin and piano had started in 1827 and was completed quarter of a century later.

Publication

The 19th-century collected edition published Schubert's compositions for piano and one other instrument in its eighth series in 1886, edited by Ignaz Brüll. The second to fourth pieces in that volume were Schubert's first three violin sonatas (D 384, 385 and 408), which had already been published in 1836, by Diabelli & Co. as Drei Sonatinen für Piano-Forte und Violine, Op. posth. 137.

Series VI, Volume 8 of the New Schubert Edition, published in 1970, contained the same works as series VIII of the 19th-century collected edition, but presented them in chronological order of composition, thus beginning with the three Op. 137 sonatas.

Recordings

1978-1979: Schubert: Music for Violin and Piano. Szymon Goldberg (violin) and Radu Lupu (piano). Decca;466 748-2 (2 CD box – also contains the Duo in A major, the Fantasy in C major, and a version of the Arpeggione Sonata).
2020: Schubert: 3 Violin Sonatas. Peter Sheppard Skærved (violin) and Julian Perkins (square piano). Athene Records 23208

References

Printed Music: chamber music – duets (without sonatas) at www.schubert-online.at
^ Dennis D. Rooney. Liner notes to Schubert: The Complete Works for Violin and Piano. Brilliant Classics No. 92275 (EAN 5028421922751), 2004.
^ Richard Wigmore. Liner notes to Schubert: Complete works for violin and piano. Hyperion CDA67911/2, 2013. EAN 034571179117
^ Harry Halbreich. Liner notes to CD 6–7, pp. 3–5 in Schubert Edition: Liner notes, sung texts, full tracklist. Brilliant Classics No. 94870 (EAN 5028421948706), 2014
^ Deutsch 1978, pp. 232–233.
^ Deutsch 1978, p. 244.
^ Printed Music: D 384 Drei Sonatinen für Piano-Forte und Violine (op. post. 137,1), D 385 Drei Sonatinen für Piano-Forte und Violine (op. post. 137,2) and D 408 Drei Sonatinen für Piano-Forte und Violine (op. post. 137,3) at www.schubert-online.at
Sonatinas, violin, piano, D. 384, D major at Juilliard School website (Facsimile of autograph score, RISM 900004981)
Printed Music: D 895 Rondeau Brillant (op. 70) at www.schubert-online.at
Printed Music: D 934 Fantasie (op. post. 159) at www.schubert-online.at
Printed Music: D 574 Duo (en La) pour Piano et Violon (op. post. 162) at www.schubert-online.at
Ignaz Brüll (editor). Franz Schubert's Werke, Series VIII: Pianoforte und Ein Instrument. Breitkopf & Härtel, 1886
Helmut Wirth (editor). New Schubert Edition, Series VI (Chamber Music) – Vol. 8: Works for Piano and one instrument. Bärenreiter, 1970. ISMN 9790006472000

Sources

Deutsch, Otto Erich; et al. (Walther Dürr, Arnold Feil, Christa Landon [de] and Werner Aderhold) (1978). Franz Schubert: Thematisches Verzeichnis seiner Werke in chronologischer Folge. New Schubert Edition (in German). Kassel: Bärenreiter. ISBN 9783761805718. ISMN 9790006305148 – via Internet Archive. Series VIII (Supplement), Vol. 4

External links

3 Sonatinas, Op. 137: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project

Piano compositions and sonatas by Franz Schubert

violin and piano	Sonat(in)as D 384, 385 and 408, Op.137 Sonata in A major "(Grand) Duo", D 574, Op.162
arpeggione and piano	Sonata in A minor "Arpeggione", D 821
piano trio	Sonatensatz in B♭ major, D 28

v t e Chamber music by Franz Schubert
Duos	For violin and piano Sonat(in)as D 384, 385 and 408 Duo in A major, D 574 Rondo in B minor, D 895 Fantasy in C major, D 934 Arpeggione Sonata, D 821
Trios	Sonatensatz for piano trio, D 28 String Trios D 111A, 471 and 581 Notturno for piano trio, D 897 Piano Trio No. 1, D 898 Piano Trio No. 2, D 929 "The Shepherd on the Rock", D 965
String Quartets	No. 1, D 18 No. 2, D 32 No. 3, D 36 No. 4, D 46 No. 5, D 68 No. 6, D 74 No. 7, D 94 Quartettsatz, D 103 No. 8, D 112 No. 9, D 173 No. 10 (Haushaltung), D 87 No. 11, D 353 No. 12 (Quartettsatz), D 703 No. 13 (Rosamunde), D 804 No. 14 (Death and the Maiden), D 810 No. 15, D 887
Other	Rondo for violin and strings, D 438 Adagio and Rondo Concertante, D 487 Trout Quintet, D 667 Octet, D 803 String Quintet, D 956
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