Alexander Goehr - Piano Sonata

Sonata for piano, Op. 2 (1952)

John Ogdon, piano

Rhythmic variation is an important feature of the piano sonata Op. 2 of Alexander Goehr (b.1932), recalling similar procedures in the music of Olivier Messiaen, with whom Goehr studied in the academic year 1955-56. The sonata, in fact, was written some years earlier in 1953, and performed for the first time at Morley College. A virile, energetic work, it is both bold in structure and forceful in expression. Even at a first hearing it gives an impression of real authority, of a lively and imaginative intellectual discipline. The melodic and harmonic ideas which form the basic substance of the music are themselves so full of character that they never lose their recognisable identity through the many subtle rhythmic transformations. As the music becomes more familiar it discloses an increasing number of ingenious cross-references which bind together the various overlapping sections into a closely knit, highly articulate formal unity. Towards the close of the sonata, which is dedicated to Margaret Kitchin, the opening phrase of Prokofiev's seventh piano sonata is woven into the texture as a tribute to the Russian composer who died in 1953.
--Robert Henderson

Art by Clr Morard

[warrenstutely]

Ogdon was truly magnificent. So is goehr. Thanks !!!

[stueystuey]

Solid piece. Not going to replace Webern or Babbitt or Prokofiev but given its early post WWII release it does sublimate and prefigure much that came before and after. Bravo. As for Ogden the only piece I was very familiar with was the Busoni piano concerto a work I very much admire.

[isokani]

Thanks for this. Is it from an old LP, or radio recording?

[stueystuey]

Prokofiev drank a tiny glass of Webern.