Beethoven 250 - Violin sonatas n 2 Grimstad/ Arendal

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The first concert in the series presented a young and searching Beethoven and a mature Edvard Grieg. This program ends with the Brahms Scherzo which is one of the movements in the sonata "Frei aber Einsam" - Robert Schumann's birthday gift to his friend Joseph Joachim in 1853. Joachim was one of the great violinists of the time, who also became a very important collaborator for Brahms. The sonata was written by Schumann (2nd and last movement) and Schumann's pupil Albert Dietrich (first movement) and thus the young Brahms, who wrote this virtuosic and dramatic scherzo.

Edvard Grieg's sonata in G major opus 13 (1865) is nicknamed "the Norwegian" - understandable considering the tonal language that characterizes the sonata. Funnily enough, the main motif in the last movement of this sonata is the same one used by Debussy in his violin sonata, written many years later. Likewise, Brahms makes use of the theme in Grieg's 2nd movement when he writes the second part in movement number 2 of the A major sonata op 100, which is to be performed later in this cycle.

In sonata number 4 in Ia minor op 23 (1801) we meet a much more developed Beethoven. This is a powerful and dense sonata, poignant in expression and full of energy and vitality. Beethoven is in the process of becoming a renowned composer and stands firmly on his own two feet in Vienna.

Perhaps it was the excitement of writing for violin that caused Brahms to begin his first violin sonata (op. 78) immediately after finishing work on the Divine Violin Concerto (op. 77) which, by the way, was also written for Joseph Joachim.  Nevertheless, these two works are very different in expression. Where the violin concerto is dramatic and expressive, the sonata is introspective and philosophical. Again, thoughts go to "Frei aber einsam". The sonata is like a walk through autumn leaves and is therefore, in our opinion, very well suited to a concert program in October. 

The entire program:

Beethoven sonata n 4 in I minor op 23 

1) Presto

2) Andante scherzoso, piu allegretto

3) Allegro molto

Grieg sonata n 2 – G major

1) Lento doloroso/ Allegro vivace

2) Allegretto tranquillo

3) Allegro animato

Pause 

Brahms sonata n 1 in G major op 78

1) Vivace ma non troppo

2) Adagio/ più andante

3) Allegro molto moderato 

Brahms Scherzo (FAE) 

1) Allegro