Ru
EnZ. Alieva
Program features in the First Violin Sonata by J. Brahms: towards the problem of figurative and semantic interpretation
The published article is devoted to the elements of concealed program, identified by researchers in the Sonata No. 1 in G Major for violin and piano by J. Brahms. The possibility of interpretation of this opus as a piece of a program music is predetermined by the interaction of several factors. First of all, chamber ensemble sonatas (in particular, violin ones) are interpreted by Brahms in a predominantly lyrical (“duet”) aspect, which is facilitated by the pronounced influence of F. Schubert’s chamber ensemble work. In addition to the general compositional and dramatic principles characteristic of Schubert’s instrumentalism, Brahms sensitively perceived and adopted such specific features of artistic thinking as orientation to songs and autobiographical tendency. Thus, the named orientation to songs in the context of a “duet” ensemble implies a special type of connection and interaction of instrumental parts, a purposeful selection of thematic material and methods of its development. In addition, Brahms repeatedly turns to veiled or direct autoquotation, inserting the thematic material of his own songs – a kind of “musical diaries” by a romantic artist – into the sonatas for violin and piano. Based on this, not only a certain vocal miniature, but also its various incarnations in an instrumental “duet” can be endowed with a kind of program (in particular, autobiographical) implication. These features of program are also found in Brahms’ Violin Sonata in G Major, which captured sorrowful feelings and experiences of the composer associated with the death of F. Schumann, the youngest son of Robert and Clara Schumann, a talented poet, whose poems were highly appreciated by J. Brahms. Thus, today the mentioned “duet” opus, which in a special way reflected some features of the compositions in memoriam, requires a proper interpretive approach of performers and a delicate recreation of the author’s program concept.
Key words
J. Brahms, chamber ensemble work, Sonata No. 1 in G Major for violin and piano, songlikeness, program concept, autobiographical tendency, performing interpretation.
For citation
Alieva Z. Program features in the First Violin Sonata by J. Brahms: towards the problem of figurative and semantic interpretation // South-Russian Musical Anthology. 2023. No. 1. Pp. 52-57.
