favorite 20th century violin sonatas and cello sonatas

[North Star]

For something more modern, Xenakis' Dikhthas is a cool piece for violin & piano. Irvine Arditti & Claude Helffer's  naïve recording is on YT.

[jochanaan]

...I was listening to some of Poulenc's chamber work today and found it to be really high quality.

Yes, I like Poulenc's chamber music very much.  His oboe sonata will tear your heart out--and I'm not just saying that because I play oboe.

... Bartok is the only one here that's not (strictly) tonal...maybe. I would like to get more into that realm. Maybe.   

Oh, Bartok's music is always tonal--but he likes odd scales and modes and wild dissonance.  I've read that Schoenberg and others of the Second Viennese School considered Bartok as radical as themselves.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

I'd add Schnittke and Enescu for the violin sonatas.

[vandermolen]

I am very fond of the late, craggy Vaughan Williams Violin Sonata. Miaskovsky's Cello Sonata No 2 is one of his greatest works.

[kyjo]

I am very fond of the late, craggy Vaughan Williams Violin Sonata. Miaskovsky's Cello Sonata No 2 is one of his greatest works.

It's been awhile since I've listened to the VW; must revisit it! I agree with you about the Miaskovsky-a most moving work. Definitely listen to the Monasypov VS which I linked to earlier in this thread when you get a chance, Jeffrey!

[amw]

For something more modern, Xenakis' Dikhthas is a cool piece for violin & piano. Irvine Arditti & Claude Helffer's  naïve recording is on YT.

The internet reveals other modern music suggestions here. I haven't heard most of those admittedly.

We're farther in time from 1963 than Corigliano was from 1930.  I no longer pay attention to the idea that a work was written "for the wrong era".

I suppose that's perfectly sensible.

[milk]

Yes, I like Poulenc's chamber music very much.  His oboe sonata will tear your heart out--and I'm not just saying that because I play oboe. :)Oh, Bartok's music is always tonal--but he likes odd scales and modes and wild dissonance.  I've read that Schoenberg and others of the Second Viennese School considered Bartok as radical as themselves.

Thanks. I wasn't sure how to characterize it, technically. Anyway, I think Webern is the only one mentioned here so far that's...what do I say, atonal? 12 tone? I haven't heard it. Oh wait...I see Schnittke. But I don't know exactly how to characterize him either.

[jochanaan]

Thanks. I wasn't sure how to characterize it, technically. Anyway, I think Webern is the only one mentioned here so far that's...what do I say, atonal? 12 tone? I haven't heard it. Oh wait...I see Schnittke. But I don't know exactly how to characterize him either.

Don't characterize.  Listen.  Enjoy.

[Ten thumbs]

Medtner has already been mentioned but my favorite is the first violin son, Op.21 - so much refined subtlety.

Another favorite is Mel Bonis' Violin Sonata Op.112 (1923). This is a strong work that deserves far greater exposure. Of its wonderful Greek slow movement, I suspect that for many people it would be, once heard, never forgotten.

[milk]

I made a hodgepodge of purchases based on suggestions here of works I didn't know and collected them on a playlist. I've got Britten (cello - Gaillard), Enescu, Elgar, Walton (Hope/Mulligan), Miaskovsky (cello- Rudin), and a Hindemith viola/piano sonata. I already have Martinu's cello works on CD but I also added his 5 madrigal stanzas for violin and piano. For the Enescu, I went for Milos Popovic/Lorenzo Gatto and I've got to say it's a rare pleasure to hear so little vibrato on a 20th century violin performance (a la folk). I've still got to delve deeper into this music. Sometimes I think: how can (this or that 20th century piano chamber) music be so good but yet still not be as good as Shostakovich (ok, or maybe the Bartok or Prokofiev)? Well, maybe I'll feel differently in a month (more likely than not). Do you ever feel like you listen to a lot of music that's really good and yet still not up to the heights of other music?

[North Star]

Do you ever feel like you listen to a lot of music that's really good and yet still not up to the heights of other music?

Different musics do different things well, and I don't listen to such music much, but with some of those unsung composers I might occasionally feel like that - but then, it's usually a first listen to the composer, or at least the piece, so I might have a more favorable opinion later.

[aukhawk]

Do you ever feel like you listen to a lot of music that's really good and yet still not up to the heights of other music?

I try not to waste my time doing that.

I particularly like the Shostakovitch Cello Sonata.  Sol Gabetta seems to have recorded it twice (already) and the version I've got (on RCA coupled with the 2nd Cello Concerto) fairly sizzles along.

[kyjo]

Sometimes I think: how can (this or that 20th century piano chamber) music be so good but yet still not be as good as Shostakovich (ok, or maybe the Bartok or Prokofiev)? Well, maybe I'll feel differently in a month (more likely than not). Do you ever feel like you listen to a lot of music that's really good and yet still not up to the heights of other music?

You have brought up a very sensitive topic which I would prefer not to get involved in for the umpteenth time

[Karl Henning]

The 20^th century's deep, deep B-team bench . . . .

[milk]

I am very fond of the late, craggy Vaughan Williams Violin Sonata. Miaskovsky's Cello Sonata No 2 is one of his greatest works.

The Miaskovsky is quite wonderful!

[Madiel]

Holmboe wrote 3 violin sonatas (well, numbered ones, as well as a couple of very early efforts) - in 1935, 1939 and 1965.

I seem to remember liking them all, although coming from me about Holmboe that's not especially informative. My vague memory is that I particularly liked no.2, but really I don't know them well enough yet.

He also wrote an unaccompanied Cello Sonata, which has been recorded at least twice but I haven't yet heard.

[milk]

The New York Times called Pierne's cello sonata "tedious." I quite enjoyed it on my jog today.

[Madiel]

Having listened to all 3 of Holmboe's violin sonatas in the last couple of days, I'm going to update my previous comment and say that numbers 2 and 3 are emphatically worth checking out.

Number 1 is still pretty enjoyable, but not yet fully characteristic and arguably not on the level of the others.  Number 3 is arguably the best, it has some passages of extraordinary beauty to my ears.

In any case, as far as I know all 3 are only available on the same CD (Johannes Soe Hansen and Christina Bjorkoe).

[milk]

Having listened to all 3 of Holmboe's violin sonatas in the last couple of days, I'm going to update my previous comment and say that numbers 2 and 3 are emphatically worth checking out.

Number 1 is still pretty enjoyable, but not yet fully characteristic and arguably not on the level of the others.  Number 3 is arguably the best, it has some passages of extraordinary beauty to my ears.

In any case, as far as I know all 3 are only available on the same CD (Johannes Soe Hansen and Christina Bjorkoe).

I'm going to have to check out this composer and those sonatas. I see he has a piano trio as well (But that's for snpyrr's thread).

[Dax]

Does anybody have any particular recommendations, either cello or piano, by Martinu?