November / Month of the Sonata – 20

by richibi

Double Self-Portrait - Ernst Ludwig Kirchner

 

        “Double Self-Portrait 

 

               Ernst Ludwig Kirchner

 

                           ________

 

 

Ravel’s Violin Sonata no 2, of 1927, is a 

long way from the Romantics, though I

usually settle Ravel among the 

Impressionists, this piece seems rather

to reflect the later Expressionists in art,

see above, for its virulence and eccentric 

tonalities and performance techniques 

in both the violin and the piano, the age 

had given us the First World War, and 

would soon lead to the Second

 

the three Classical imperatives of tonality, 

tempo, and repetition are maintained still, 

but their descendants are unruly, willful, 

bold and impervious, there are no holds 

barred here, they take no prisoners

 

listen

 

 

R ! chard