SKU: HL.50566030

ISBN 9798350104448. UPC: 196288168393. 9.0x12.0x0.147 inches.

Debussy composed the Sonate for cello and piano in Normandy, in July 1915. At the age of 53, distressed by the war and afflicted by an illness that prevented him from composing, he resumed his work with the writing of this Sonate. Though his intention of assertinga French style in the tradition of the great masters of the 18th century, Debussy repeatedly affirmed the absence of a programmatic idea in the sonata: “I have written nothing but pure music. [...] in the old form, so flexible (without the grandiloquence of modern sonatas)”. This volume is part of “Musique française”, a series designed for students and teachers as well as professionals; it offers historical introduction and performance suggestions by the notable cellist Emmanuelle Bertrand.

SKU: HL.50606503

ISBN 9781705190661. UPC: 196288126799.

A special piece - a special story: In 2020, a renowned architect approached a composer to create a new piece of music for his daughter's wedding, which the happy father could give to the young couple as a wedding present. In earlier eras of private patronage, such a story would have been natural, but in the 21st century it is an odd story. The composition subtly alludes to the occasion: against the background of the piano, a duet of two instruments tells the story of a serene love (the piece can either be performed with a bassoon and a violoncello, or with two violoncellos). Mate Bella, who moves at home among different musical styles, shapes the song of lovers longing for each other in a way reminiscent of barcarolas sung by Venetian gondoliers.

SKU: BR.EB-9406

ISBN 9790004188804. 9 x 12 inches.

Raff's Cello Sonata op. 183 appeared in print in late 1873; at a time when Raff's success was at its zenith with Symphonies Nos. 3 and 5 as well as many chamber works. Little is known about the circumstances of its genesis and possible performances. Since Raff did not dedicate this sonata to any distinguished artist, unlike most of his other chamber works, it apparently lacked a drawing card for distribution. While Raff composed several well-known works for violin and piano, the present cello sonata is one of his few outstanding works for cello and piano. Incidentally, in the first edition, the score is headed for piano and cello, as was quite often the case in the 19th century, for instance also with Brahms's sonatas. This is also evident in the music: Cello and piano are equal partners that develop the musical material and are challenged both technically and artistically. This current edition contains an Urtext cello part as well as a part with markings by Claus Kanngiesser. In collaboration with the Joachim-Raff-Archiv Lachen (CH)

With a preface by Severin Kolb. Contains 2 cello parts.

SKU: HL.49046442

ISBN 9781540094780. UPC: 842819113003.

The Cello Sonata Op. 6 was composed over an apparently frequently interrupted period of three years, an extraordinarily long time for Strauss's early creative phase. The compositional process spawned two independent versions of the work, the first of which is published for the first time on the basis of the text in the Critical Edition of the Works of Richard Strauss in the current editionas a practical musical text. The genesis of the two versions and the reasons for revision can only be reconstructed in part: only one of the surviving autographs bears a date and the second version only survives in printed form. What is more, Strauss did not communicate in greater detail on this composition in correspondence with his family and friends. There are enormous differences between the two versions of the Sonata: Strauss deleted the entire second and third movements Larghetto and Allegro vivace, replacing them with a newly composed Andante and Finale. In the first movement, Allegro con brio, Strauss retained the thematic-motivic material and compositionally complex passages such as the three-voice fugue in the developmentsection (from bar 241 in the first version and bar 275 in the second version) almost intact in the new version of the sonata, but also undertook extensive alterations, particularly in the structure of the piano part, the motivic-thematic development of the movement and its harmony which became far more ambitious.12 Particular attention should be drawn to the repetitive accompaniment of the con espressione theme beginning in bar 32 and the significantly shorter development in the first version. The current printed edition of the first version of Richard Strauss's Cello Sonata now makes it possible to follow Strauss's compositional development during this period. The significance of the differences between the versions also mean that two sonata compositions for violoncello and piano by Richard Strauss with fundamental disparities in their underlying character are now available for performance.

SKU: BO.B.3652

Sonata for cello and piano was written between September and October of 2010. It is made up of three movements, each of which has unique characteristics. The first, Allegro appassionato, is monothematic, although the theme itself is presented in several ways. Following a vigorous start featuring cello cadenza, the movement is developed with a lively feel, alternating lyrical fragments with other energetic ones. Its conclusion is resounding.
Meanwhile, the second movement, Quasi un lamento, is introspective and fragile. A long melody is sustained by a delicate and transparent piano accompaniment, evoking once again the theme of the first movement and concluding with a Lento of descending piano harmonies while the cello follows, in octaves, with heartfelt glissando.

The third movement, Scherzando-Allegro, is a light-hearted game between the piano and the cello. The main theme is repeated once again, this time with a binary time signature. The cello uses ricochet (the rebounding of notes in a bow stroke), as well as natural and artificial harmonies in quick time. The piano part unfolds completely naturally, excluding any gratuitous artifice.

The piece lasts approximately 20 minutes.