Prokofiev, S :: Sonata in D major, op. 94

Sonata in D major, op. 94

Prokofiev, S

International Music Company presents Sergei Prokofiev's 'Sonata in D Major' op. 94 for flute and piano.

'The 'Sonata for Flute and Piano in D Major' is Prokofiev s only work for flute. Prokofiev uses a conventional four-movement format, with the first movement in a sonata form, the second a Minuet and Scherzo, the third a slow movement in a ternary form, and the fourth a rondo. Prokofiev described the sonata s composition: 'I wanted to write a sonata in delicate, fluid classical style.' This is clear in the structure of the movements; however, the flute explores a wide variety of colors in each of the movements, with occasionally biting motives and some deeply tender moments, set neatly within a classical domain. The challenging flute part, which is filled with pleasing and intriguing melodic themes, as well as the demands placed on the ensemble, has led to the sonata s reputation as among the most difficult and revered in the flute repertory.' -Danielle Stevens, 2014

Precocious as a child, Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953) entered the St. Petersburg Conservatory in 1904, by which time he had already written a great deal of music. After the Russian Revolution, he was given permission to travel abroad and he remained intermittently out of Russia, in America and then in Paris, until his final return to Russia in 1936. At home, he found himself out of favor with the authorities and in 1948 the subject of particular and direct censure. He died in 1953, on the same day as Josef Stalin. His most widely known composition is his children's tale, Peter and the Wolf, a simple pedagogical work to introduce to children the instruments of the orchestra, with instruments or groups of instruments representing characters in the story.