Pick your Cello Sonata

[rappy]

  

[lukeottevanger]

That was easy! Assuming you're the one who voted for the Strauss - it's a fun little work, though much too cluttered full of rather grand rhetoric, I think; I used to play it myself back when I played the cello more than I do now, but I wouldn't overestimate it! For me the Debussy and the Brahms 2nd sit very high indeed, also the Beethoven C major I think, and it's hard to choose, but I went for the former because it's such a stand-alone, utterly individual masterpiece.

GMG's resident cellist Guido will know doubt have a long list of great cello sonatas you've forgotten (the Carter probably top of his list), but for my money that's quite a good list you've set up. 

[rappy]

Hi luke,

thanks, I know there are many more sonatas for cello and piano, but it's just impossible to list them all!  0:)
You're right with your assumption, I voted for Strauss because if love that piece and think it's certainly underestimated! The Beethoven and Brahms sonatas you mentioned, which I love as well and which would be my next choices, are mature works and might be better, but the amount of highly inventive ideas in the Strauss sonata is incredible - something I miss in some (quite a few) of his later works.

[Opus106]

I'm curious to know the order in which the pieces have been listed. I presume it's not "whichever came to mind first," since you have posted one Beethoven sonata at the top and two (later works) close to the bottom. 

[rappy]

Important rule: A list shall always begin with Beethoven and end with Beethoven.

[hornteacher]

Easy poll for me.

Beethoven A Major.

[Gurn Blanston]

Important rule: A list shall always begin with Beethoven and end with Beethoven.

Indeed, you have learned well, Grasshopper...

Although my favorite IS a Beethoven; you missed it, it is the Op 5 #2 in g minor.



----------------
Listening to:
Staatskapelle Dresden / Blomstedt - Op 125 Symphony #9 in d 3rd mvmt - Adagio molto e cantabile

[Opus106]

Important rule: A list shall always begin with Beethoven and end with Beethoven.

Oh.

I'll refrain from voting right now, as I am not familiar with more than three or four of those listed, but a "temporary vote" goes to Brahms' first.

[ChamberNut]

Really tough choice, but I chose Brahms E minor Op. 38

[not edward]

For me the Debussy and the Brahms 2nd sit very high indeed, also the Beethoven C major I think, and it's hard to choose, but I went for the former because it's such a stand-alone, utterly individual masterpiece.

If forced to pick, the Debussy is probably the one I'd go for. But the second Brahms, the op 69 Beethoven, and the Carter would all be very tempting.

[helios]

The Beethoven Op. 69 is flawless.  0:)

[PSmith08]

That is a pretty solid selection, but I had to go with Chopin's op. 65. Truth be told, Gregor Piatigorsky's performance for this piece, coupled with Rudolf Firkušný's intelligent accompaniment, has really made me a fan (Testament SBT-1419, though it was recorded by RCA in 1965).

[Guido]

From the ones listed I asbolutely could not pick between Beethoven's 3rd, 5th, Brahms 2nd or Debussy's. These are all just astonishinigly brilliant works - as well as many others there. I adore the Shostakovich Sonata too - but I feel that the first movement outclasses the following movements just a little too much.

The Chopin and Mendelssohn sonatas are the only Sonatas in the standard repertoire that don't grab me... but then neither composer is really my bag.

Other Sonatas that I think (this is a rather personal list but they are all masterpieces or approaching masterpiece status) are at least equal to or better than some on the list are: Bridge's of 1917, Prokofiev's, Poulenc's and Carter's of 1948, Kodaly's of 1908, Barber's of 1932, Janacek's of 1910 and maybe even Previn's of 1994 (though that's rather controversial).

I really couldn't choose between any of the one's just mentioned. Or maybe I will...

[Guido]

That was easy! Assuming you're the one who voted for the Strauss - it's a fun little work, though much too cluttered full of rather grand rhetoric, I think; I used to play it myself back when I played the cello more than I do now, but I wouldn't overestimate it! For me the Debussy and the Brahms 2nd sit very high indeed, also the Beethoven C major I think, and it's hard to choose, but I went for the former because it's such a stand-alone, utterly individual masterpiece.

GMG's resident cellist Guido will know doubt have a long list of great cello sonatas you've forgotten (the Carter probably top of his list), but for my money that's quite a good list you've set up. 

C major over D major? I am shocked!  Well not that shocked. Not appalled though, that would be too far.

I agree that the Debussy is an incredible masterpiece - as I'm sure I've said before, it really packs an incredible punch for it's 12 minutes - it has everything that you'd want from a piece of music - inventive and overflowing with ideas, perfectly written and balanced between the two instruments, by turns beautiful, mercurial, and powerful, taughtly constructed, clear formal design etc. etc. An absolute gem.

[lukeottevanger]

Yes, indeed. That opening page-and-a-half, and its recapitulation, all slow-tempo 'organic' heterophony garlanded with trills and sundry ornaments - well, you know my compositions, and so you can probably see how this music appeals to me. One of Beethoven's most quietly astonishing passages, IMO.

[Guido]

It is a pretty incredible passage, and an amazing piece, but it's glories are rather more veiled than the D major with it's brilliant first movement, heartbreaking and utterly profound second and the final movement - a fugue created from the very simplest of means. I wouldn't want to be without either. 

[lukeottevanger]

I'm all for veiled glories....

[Guido]

I wouldn't want to be without either.

Actually make that all five. The second greatest cycle us cellists have.

[samuel]

Can I pick Schubert's Arpeggione Sonata even though it's technically not a cello sonata? I really love the Rostropovich/Britten recording.

[Rod Corkin]

Beethoven is the alpha and the omega of the cello sonata, so I selected the omega, Op102 Nr2.