Sergei Prokofiev - Piano Sonata no. 10 (fragment), Op. 137 (Boris Berman) (1953)

At the time of his death on March 5, 1953, Prokofiev was working on seven compositions, including this, his Piano Sonata No. 10. None of the seven had reached completion, though the Concertino for Cello and Orchestra was close. Whether Prokofiev felt the curse of the number "9" that so dogged Mahler and others in the realm of the symphony is doubtful, but he did see his death coming and worked feverishly to produce as much as he could in his remaining days. In the case of this sonata, he completed very little but it suggests very much.

This fragment, lasting about a minute, appears to initiate a reworking of the Sonatina, Op. 54, No. 1 (1931-32), since the first 27 bars (about two-thirds of the score here) are a revision of music in the first movement of that work. But Prokofiev then presents a new theme, a lyrical, rather melancholy melody whose suave, direct manner suggests the mood of 1947 Ninth Piano Sonata's first movement. Then the music trails off, and the listener is left to wonder whether this interesting stub might have become a masterpiece.

Description by Robert Cummings
Performed by Boris Berman

[christianvennemann]

Such a shame Prokofiev never got to complete this. Just this barely one-minute fragment is so intriguing.

[ermannosava]

I absolutely and categorically need to know how this sonata continues.

[rubinsteinway]

Interesting! Fragments from Sonatina No.1.

[IvoryStrings]

The second theme is beautiful, the call alternating with the dotted melody... Prokofiev is definitely one of the greatest melodist.

[YaniiiArianiii_PianoVocalMusic]

Вот бы кто-то из композиторов завершил эту мысль, пусть даже, по-своему... Очень интригующее начало!

[tatsuhelma]

There is his op. 54 no. 1 in this piece

[na-kun]

Bar 32. 3rd beat. G played instead of an A that is written on score 0:43