Ru
EnE. Lukyanenko
Violin Sonata No. 2 by E. Grieg in context of the genre historical development
The published article is devoted to an outstanding example of European chamber ensemble music of the 19th century – E. Grieg’s Second Violin Sonata (in G major, 1867). This work has a special place both in the creative evolution of the author and in the history of the “sonata-duet” genre of the Romantic era. On the one hand, E. Grieg called this work a “national sonata” emphasizing the undoubted significance of this opus in his individual development as a Norwegian composer. On the other hand, E. Grieg’s Second Violin Sonata was the earliest academic work of the 19th century, belonging to the sphere of chamber ensemble instrumental repertoire and consistently embodying the principles of national (in particular, folk) instrumentalism. Thanks to such a pronounced novelty of the artistic concept, the mentioned cycle acquired an undoubted attractiveness for composers who represented young national schools (first of all, European ones) and created similar chamber works in the first third of the 20th century. At the same time, the fairly common interpretation of E. Grieg’s Second Sonata as a brilliant concert work – “a monument to folk dance art” – seems obviously incomplete. An analytical examination of the most important intonation and thematic material presented in this cycle allows us to identify the priority role of the diverse connections and interactions of two dance genre spheres – “national” (Norwegian springar) and “pan-European” (lyrical waltz) as the basis for “end-to-end” musical-dramatic development. Such a development, based on Beethoven’s traditions, can well be interpreted in the spirit of a generalized program tendency, very characteristic of the romantic era in general and of E. Grieg’s instrumental thinking in particular. According to the author of the article, it is precisely this “dual unity” of nationalgenre picturesque and subjective-lyrical narration that predetermines the unique originality of the opus under consideration as an artistic idea.
Key words
E. Grig, chamber ensemble work, Sonata No. 2 for Violin and Piano, musical dramaturgy, individual artistic idea.
For citation
Lukyanenko E. Violin Sonata No. 2 by E. Grieg in context of the genre historical development. In: South-Russian Musical Anthology. 2024. No. 2. Pp. 99–104.
