Sonata

for violin and piano

General Information – Instrumentation – Manuscript – Publication – Arrangements – Recordings

General Information:

Composition:
1947–9. Revised considerably after the premiere, 1949–50.

First Performance:
30 September 1949. Tonhalle, Zόrich. Yehudi Menuhin violin, Louis Kentner piano.

Duration:
About 26 minutes

Movements:

I.   Allegro tranquillo
     II.   Theme. Andante —
Variation 1. A tempo poco piω mosso —
Variation 2. A tempo quasi improvisando —
Variation 3. Alla marcia molto vivace —
Variation 4. Allegro molto —
Variation 5. Allegretto con moto —
Variation 6. Scherzando —
Variation 7. Andante tranquillo —
Coda. Molto vivace — Presto

Dedication:
To Diana Menuhin and Griselda Kentner

Craggs Catalogue Number:
C55

Instrumentation:

Violin – piano

Manuscript:

William Walton Museum, Forio d'Ischia. Autograph score.

Publication:

Oxford University Press. Violin part edited by Yehudi Menuhin. 1950. Piano score and violin part, 019 3594307.

Arrangements:

Sonata for Violin and Orchestra, orchestrated by Christopher Palmer.
Instrumentation: Violin solo – 3 flutes (third doubling piccolo), 2 oboes (second doubling cor anglais), 3 clarinets (third doubling bass clarinet), 2 bassoons – 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba – timpani, 2 percussion – harp – piano (doubling celesta) – strings
Publication: Oxford University Press. Score and parts are available on hire.

Recordings:

Violinist Pianist Year Compact Disc Timing
Yehudi Menuhin Louis Kentner 1950 EMI 66122 24'59"
Kenneth Sillito Hamish Milne 1991 Chandos CHAN 8999 26'27"
Lydia Mordkovitch London Philharmonic, Jan Latham-Koenig (arr. Palmer) 1992 Chandos CHAN 9073 27'47"
Janice Graham John Alley 1995 EMI Classics 55404 25'59"
Herbert Greenberg Ann Schein 2005 Delos DE 3342 26'09"

 

WilliamWalton.net – Catalogue of Works – Chamber Music