Finest Cycle of Non-Austro-Germanic Piano Sonatas?

[Florestan]

Two can most definitely make a cycle - this happens a lot with piano pieces

No argument from me here.

[Florestan]

George Walker's 5 piano sonatas are my pick for this list.

Are they on YT or free Spotify?

[Florestan]

They are all on YouTube

1
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=S6pRXxyrgxw

2
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9S67WpxWaWs

3
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zaOrsIv35iM

4
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mEa0ob5neiY
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1ThOHoEM-8c

5
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sjpL7Wjd6uU

Thanks. Saved for later listening.

[Karl Henning]

I'm inclined to call a pair a diptych, but I'm also disinclined to foster argument on the point.

[DavidW]

My list:

Scarlatti
Prokofiev
Boulez
Schnittke
Scriabin
Clementi

[Florestan]

I'm inclined to call a pair a diptych, but I'm also disinclined to foster argument on the point.

Call it, Karl! Have no fear!

[Luke]

My list:

Scarlatti
Prokofiev
Boulez
Schnittke
Scriabin
Clementi

Schnittke is a good call there, and reminded me of Silvestrov's sonatas which are interesting, fine works IMO

[Maestro267]

Why? The sonatas 1 and 3 exist and they can qualify as a cycle despite the absence of the 2nd.

I stand corrected. Though you should have specified 3 in parentheses.

[Luke]

A few more, each with multiple contributions to the genre:

Ornstein
Roslavetz
Feinberg
Ullmann
Miaskovsky
Hoddinott

[Luke]

Oh, and how can I forget, the most prolific of the lot, the weird and wonderful (and recently deceased) John White. So much fun! 180+ sonatas...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_White_(composer)

[Mandryka]

James Clarke
Philippe Manoury
Chris Newman
Salvatore Sciarrino
Horatio Radulescu
Sergei Prokofiev
Alfred Schnittke
John Cage
Ferruccio Busoni
Alexander Scriabin
Franz Liszt

[Luke]

Radulescu - yes! G4eat pieces, a proper cycle.
Sciarrino, similarly
Busoni definitely, if we're allowed sonatinas. Works of major importance and great beauty. And what a stylistic range!

Cage - I'm not sure they really count, they're part of a single work. Though I considered suggesting them myself!

[Mandryka]

Oh, and how can I forget, the most prolific of the lot, the weird and wonderful (and recently deceased) John White. So much fun! 180+ sonatas...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_White_(composer)

Have you heard Chris Newman's sonatas?

[Luke]

I'm aware and have seen scores but I've not heard anything.

[Mandryka]

I'm aware and have seen scores but I've not heard anything.

Michael Finnissy recorded some of them - I think he's a good composer. I'm listening now to the Sibelius sonatinas - interesting, lovely music.

A sonatina is presumably a little sonata!

[Wanderer]

[CENSORED] 

I don't believe any of them would condone the current situation in Russia.

[Karl Henning]

A few more, each with multiple contributions to the genre:

Ornstein
Roslavetz
Feinberg
Ullmann
Miaskovsky
Hoddinott

I need to wade into the Myaskovsky sonatas. And much as I've enjoyed the odd Ornstein piece, it hadn't occurred to me to see about sonatas.

[Luke]

There's some great stuff there. Not as iconoclastic as early Ornstein, much more romantic-Rachmaninoffy in style.

Edit - to be more precise, we only have sonatas 4 to 8, and 4 is from near the beginning of his enormously long career (1918) whilst the others are at the other end (no 8 is 1990). 4 is the most Rachmaninov-like of the lot, despite its proximity to his wildest and most famous works. The later sonatas are less easily accessible than no 4, in general, but still much less barbed and more traditional in texture than those magnificent early masterpieces.

[Florestan]

I don't believe any of them would condone the current situation in Russia.

Oh, absolutely. I was just joking.

[pjme]

"Embracing pianistic templates in a refreshing way, integrating short pieces into a larger form and the sound of a Straight Strung Concert Grande (a concert grand piano from Chris Maene's piano factory) formed the starting point. The short sonatas walk through all the keys, such as Bach's Wohltemperirtes Clavier or Chopin's Preludes. They each have a clear connection with existing forms and old composers, or are inspired by them. For example, we hear a jazzy Scarlatti, a quiet continuation of the moving accompaniment figure of the Lacrimosa from Mozart's Requiem, dreamy Bach-like reflections and a theme from a Mozart sonata that suddenly leans towards minor, but also more autonomous music. Everything melodious and accessible, but never lazy or soft. Pianistic investigations with a surprising angle. Small gems that string together to form a beautiful whole. The grand piano with all the strings stretched parallel sounds direct and expressive. A joy to listen to."

24 sonatas fit on 1 cd!
Piet Swerts