2017 Concert Series In Flanders Fields | Page 7

Violin Sonata in E minor, Op. 27 No.4
Eugène Ysaÿe (1858–1931)
Three movements:
1 Allemanda: Lento maestoso 2 Sarabande: Quasi lento
3 Finale: Presto ma non troppo
Born in the Belgian city of Liège, the violinist Eugène-Auguste Ysaÿe was
quickly ranked among the leading violinists of his day. His international
concert career took off in the 1880s and continued for half a century.
As a composer, he is best known for his set of six hugely demanding
Sonatas for Solo Violin, Op.27, which appeared in 1924. Each sonata is
dedicated to a famous violinist, and reflects to some degree the style and
‘trade-marks’ of its named performer. In the case of the fourth sonata, in
E minor, the work is dedicated to the legendary virtuoso Fritz Kreisler.
Kreisler’s well-known preoccupation with Bach is featured in the opening
Allemanda, with its expressive lines, often in clever pseudo-counterpoint,
and multiple stops that make the violin sound almost orchestral, with the
culmination of a grand, ‘symphonic’ ending.
Bach continues his presence in the following Sarabande, where the
opening, magical pizzicato moves into another contrapuntal web of
power and poise before scaling the heights, to close with four simple
pizzicati chords.
More Kreisler-like is the flashing three-part Finale which flowers into an
expressive, melody-plus-accompaniment centrepiece before racing off
again in magical brilliance.
© 2017 Heath Lees
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