Medtner - 14 Piano Sonatas (Many performers)

"I repeat what I said to you back in Russia: you are, in my opinion, the greatest composer of our time." – Sergei Rachmaninov (1921)

It would be hard to overestimate the importance of this set. The 14 Medtner's piano Sonatas are the peak of the great Russian romanticism. Musically, technically and intellectually his works are very difficult, and don't show-off, which may explain their neglect.
Born on December 24, 1879 according to the Julian calendar (in use in Russia at that time), Nikolai Medtner was a few years younger than Rachmaninoff and Scriabin, who had long overshadowed him before his music was the object a new craze, thanks in particular to the interpretations of pianists like Emil Gilels and more recently Geoffrey Tozer, Marc André Hamelin, Hamish Milne and Severin von Eckardstein, who allow a new rediscovery of Medtner's music these years.
Recitalist and concertist, Medtner was also a professor at the Moscow Conservatory but chose to leave Soviet Russia in 1921. He lived in the United States then in Paris and finally settled in London, where he died. He had the extravagant good fortune to arouse the enthusiasm of the Maharajah of Mysore (in the state of Karnataka, India), who allowed him to record his own compositions.
Most of Medtner's works (fourteen sonatas, three concertos, chamber music works, melodies) are intended for the piano or use the piano. To put it quickly, they show romanticism, nostalgia, passion, tragic, violence (not brutal though). Medtner never recognized himself in the research carried out by his contemporaries, as he explained in his book The Muse and Fashion (1935) where he defends "the sacred laws of Eternal Art".

Sonata in F Minor, Op. 5
Tozer :
00:00​ - I. Allegro
11:44​ - II. Intermezzo: Allegro
15:00​ - III. Largo
22:49​ - IV. Finale: Allegro risoluto
Debargue :
30:50​ - I. Allegro
43:25​ - II. Intermezzo: Allegro
49:07​ - III. Largo
57:57​ - IV. Finale: Allegro risoluto

Sonata Triade, Op. 11
Tozer :
1:05:59​ - I. Piano Sonata in A-Flat Major
1:15:07 - II. Piano Sonata in D Minor, "Elegy"
1:21:47 - ​III. Piano Sonata in C Major

Sonata in G Minor, Op. 22
1:30:18 - Emil Gilels
1:46:44 - Hamish Milne
2:03:32 - Geoffrey Tozer

Sonata Skazka, Op. 25 No. 1
Tozer :
2:22:35 - I. Allegro abbandonamente
2:27:26 - II. Andantino con moto
2:30:49 - III. Allegro con spirito

Sonata "Night Wind", Op 25 No. 2
Ponochevny :
2:34:48 - I. Introduzione : Andante con moto
2:37:03 - II. Allegro
2:49:45 - III. Tempo dell'introduzione
2:52:14 - IV. Allegro molto sfrenatamente, presto
3:00:48 - V. Quasi cadenza
Tozer :
3:06:43 - I. Introduzione: Andante con moto
3:09:12 - II. Allegro
3:23:34 - III. Tempo dell'introduzione
3:26:15 - IV. Allegro molto sfrenatamente, presto
3:35:19 - V. Quasi cadenza
Eckardstein :
3:41:48​ - I. Introduzione: Andante con moto
3:44:26​ - II. Allegro
3:57:22​ - III. Tempo dell'introduzione
4:00:07​ - IV. Allegro molto sfrenatamente, presto
4:08:19​ - V. Quasi cadenza

Sonata Ballade, Op. 27
Tozer :
4:14:28 - I. Allegretto​
4:24:07 - II. Introduzione: Mesto​
4:27:14 - III. Finale: Allegro​
Eckardstein :
4:35:21 - I. Allegretto​
4:44:56 - II. Introduzione: Mesto
4:48:16 - III. Finale: Allegro​
Milne :
4:56:21 - I. Allegretto​
5:07:06 - II. Introduzione: Mesto​
5:10:56 - III. Finale: Allegro​
Medtner :
5:21:07 - I. Allegretto ​
5:31:32 - II. Introduzione: Mesto ​
5:34:45 - III. Finale: Allegro

Sonata in A Minor "War", Op. 30
5:44:12 - Eckardstein
5:56:57 - Milne
6:11:34 - Tozer

Sonata Reminiscenza, Op. 38 No. 1
6:25:37​ - Kissin
6:41:45​ - Berezovsky
6:53:27​ - Tozer

Sonata Tragica, Op. 39 No. 5
7:06:18 - Tozer
7:15:45 - Tozer (2)
7:25:22 - Sudbin

Sonata Romantica Op. 53 No. 1
Tozer :
7:34:41 - I. Romanza. Andantino con moto, ma sempre espressivo
7:41:56 - II. Scherzo. Allegro
7:47:18 - III. Meditation. Andante con moto
7:50:41 - IV. Finale. Allegro non troppo
Gvozdetsky :
7:58:56 - I. Romanza. Andantino con moto, ma sempre espressivo
8:06:57 - II. Scherzo. Allegro
8:11:29 - III. Meditation. Andante con moto
8:16:09 - IV. Finale. Allegro non troppo

Sonata Minacciosa, Op. 53 No. 2
Milne :
8:23:37 - I. Allegro sostenuto, concentrando
8:25:54 - II. L'istesso tempo (ma con entusiasmo)
8:31:37 - III. Fuga: Sempre al rigore di tempo
8:34:29 - IV. Tempo I, concentrando
8:36:01 - V. A tempo (con entusiasme)
8:39:22 - VI. Coda: Sempre animato (al rigore di tempo)
Tozer :
8:41:19 - I. Allegro sostenuto, concentrando ​
8:43:36 - II. L'istesso tempo (ma con entusiasmo)
8:49:55 - III. Fuga: Sempre al rigore di tempo
8:52:36 - IV. Tempo I, concentrando
8:54:08 - V. A tempo (con entusiasme)
8:57:02 - VI. Coda: Sempre animato (al rigore di tempo)

Sonata Idylle, Op. 56
Tozer :
8:58:54​ - I. Pastorale : allegretto cantabile
9:03:19 - II. Allegro moderato e cantabile
Wild :
9:11:09​ - I. Pastorale : allegretto cantabile
9:14:25​ - II. Allegro moderato e cantabile

#medtner #piano #sheetmusic

[SeigneurReefShark]

Sonata in F Minor, Op. 5
Tozer :
00:00​​ - I. Allegro
11:44​​ - II. Intermezzo: Allegro
15:00​​ - III. Largo
22:49​​ - IV. Finale: Allegro risoluto
Debargue :
30:50​​ - I. Allegro
43:25​​ - II. Intermezzo: Allegro
49:07​​ - III. Largo
57:57​​ - IV. Finale: Allegro risoluto

Sonata Triade, Op. 11
1:05:59​​ - I. Piano Sonata in A-Flat Major
1:15:07​ - II. Piano Sonata in D Minor, "Elegy"
1:21:47​ - ​III. Piano Sonata in C Major

Sonata in G Minor, Op. 22
1:30:18​ - Emil Gilels
1:46:44​ - Hamish Milne
2:03:32​ - Geoffrey Tozer

Sonata Skazka, Op. 25 No. 1
2:22:35​ - I. Allegro abbandonamente
2:27:26​ - II. Andantino con moto
2:30:49​ - III. Allegro con spirito

Sonata "Night Wind", Op 25 No. 2
Ponochevny :
2:34:48​ - I. Introduzione : Andante con moto
2:37:03​ - II. Allegro
2:49:45​ - III. Tempo dell'introduzione
2:52:14​ - IV. Allegro molto sfrenatamente, presto
3:00:48​ - V. Quasi cadenza
Tozer :
3:06:43​ - I. Introduzione: Andante con moto
3:09:12​ - II. Allegro
3:23:34​ - III. Tempo dell'introduzione
3:26:15​ - IV. Allegro molto sfrenatamente, presto
3:35:19​ - V. Quasi cadenza
Eckardstein :
3:41:48​​ - I. Introduzione: Andante con moto
3:44:26​​ - II. Allegro
3:57:22​​ - III. Tempo dell'introduzione
4:00:07​​ - IV. Allegro molto sfrenatamente, presto
4:08:19​​ - V. Quasi cadenza

Sonata Ballade, Op. 27
Tozer :
4:14:28​ - I. Allegretto​
4:24:07​ - II. Introduzione: Mesto​
4:27:14​ - III. Finale: Allegro​
Eckardstein :
4:35:21​ - I. Allegretto​
4:44:56​ - II. Introduzione: Mesto
4:48:16​ - III. Finale: Allegro​
Milne :
4:56:21​ - I. Allegretto​
5:07:06​ - II. Introduzione: Mesto​
5:10:56​ - III. Finale: Allegro​
Medtner :
5:21:07​ - I. Allegretto ​
5:31:32​ - II. Introduzione: Mesto ​
5:34:45​ - III. Finale: Allegro

Sonata in A Minor "War", Op. 30
5:44:12​ - Eckardstein
5:56:57​ - Milne
6:11:34​ - Tozer

Sonata Reminiscenza, Op. 38 No. 1
6:25:37​​ - Kissin
6:41:45​​ - Berezovsky
6:53:27​​ - Tozer

Sonata Tragica, Op. 39 No. 5
7:06:18​ - Tozer
7:15:45​ - Tozer (2)
7:25:22​ - Sudbin

Sonata Romantica Op. 53 No. 1
Tozer :
7:34:41​ - I. Romanza. Andantino con moto, ma sempre espressivo
7:41:56​ - II. Scherzo. Allegro
7:47:18​ - III. Meditation. Andante con moto
7:50:41​ - IV. Finale. Allegro non troppo
Gvozdetsky :
7:58:56​ - I. Romanza. Andantino con moto, ma sempre espressivo
8:06:57​ - II. Scherzo. Allegro
8:11:29​ - III. Meditation. Andante con moto
8:16:09​ - IV. Finale. Allegro non troppo

Sonata Minacciosa, Op. 53 No. 2
Milne :
8:23:37​ - I. Allegro sostenuto, concentrando
8:25:54​ - II. L'istesso tempo (ma con entusiasmo)
8:31:37​ - III. Fuga: Sempre al rigore di tempo
8:34:29​ - IV. Tempo I, concentrando
8:36:01​ - V. A tempo (con entusiasme)
8:39:22​ - VI. Coda: Sempre animato (al rigore di tempo)
Tozer :
8:41:19​ - I. Allegro sostenuto, concentrando ​
8:43:36​ - II. L'istesso tempo (ma con entusiasmo)
8:49:55​ - III. Fuga: Sempre al rigore di tempo
8:52:36​ - IV. Tempo I, concentrando
8:54:08​ - V. A tempo (con entusiasme)
8:57:02​ - VI. Coda: Sempre animato (al rigore di tempo)

Sonata Idylle, Op. 56
Tozer :
8:58:54​​ - I. Pastorale : allegretto cantabile
9:03:19​ - II. Allegro moderato e cantabile
Wild :
9:11:09​​ - I. Pastorale : allegretto cantabile
9:14:25​​ - II. Allegro moderato e cantabile

[PieInTheSky]

Back in my day, youtube had a 15 minute video length limit. Thanks for this! ☺

[florisende]

Doctor: you have 9 hours and 23 minutes to live

me:

[scriabinismydog]

This is a major achievement in the whole score video community. Congrats, and thank you infinetely for all these precious Medtner uploads!

[SeigneurReefShark]

Part 1 :
Sonata in F Minor, Op. 5
Medtner's Sonata in F minor, Op. 5, is the first sonata Medtner composed. This sonata shows some influence of Scriabin and Rachmaninoff, however, its very original and already features some of the genius Medtner's craftmanship. Even though not representing the later works of the composer, Medtner gaining in subtlety and complexity in the years, this work is already particularly impressive, and clearly shows Medtner's ability to compose pieces with a total mastery of the structure. The first movement is dramatic and already seems to feature tale-like Medtner style. Then, the second movement is an intermezzo, darker than the first movement and march-like. The third movement is marked "Largo divoto" and make the transition with the fourth movement with an epic maestoso climax. The fourth movement is absolutely incredible : an unstoppable flow, a diabolic race, getting crazier and crazier until the final measures : an explosive, jubilant end.The two performances left me speechless. There won't be much to say about Tozer recording, it's simply amazing, full of fire and passion. But then, i got absolutely stroke by the Debargue interpretation. A relatively unknown Medtner performer, giving one of the best performances of the sonata. He plays extremely delicately where it needs, has an absolute control over every single details, is very clear but without being unemotional and cold ; in fact, this is maybe the most expressive performance of the sonata. Debargue absolutely owns the sonata. Performance reccomended : Lucas Debargue - 30:50​​

Sonata Triade, Op. 11
The Medtner Sonata Triade consists in a group of 3 sonatas, dedicated to the memory of Andrey Bratenshi, the composer’s brother-in-law who committed suicide in 1906, though they were not written as a response to this event but were already nearing completion at the time. This sonatas are 3 hidden gems of the piano litterature, each one featuring particularly charming themes and rythmes. The overall ambiance is sunny, beautiful and delicate most of the time, with some really joyous/explosive moments, in contrast with the general calm and quiet atmosphere. The only exception is the first theme of the second sonata, in D minor, sad and longing.

Sonata in G Minor, Op. 22
The Medtner's sonata in G minor, Opus 22, was often considered to be one of Medtner's greatest, and is surely the most performed and well known out of them all. It has been performed by Prokofiev, by Horowitz, and recorded by Moiseiwitsch and Gilels, giants of the piano. It hasn't been recorded by Horowitz, because of the mediocre critics that incorrectly opined that ""not a single phrase of it quickens the pulse"! It is so appreciated for diverse reasons ; its powerful drama, its refined beauty, the first note already sends the listener to another world. But also for its incredible structure, coherent and organic. As Heinrich Neuhaus wrote: ‘The sonata’s trajectory is felt from the first to the last note as one uninterrupted line.’ The interpretations here contrasts a lot. Gilels recording is fiery, very dramatic, and overall an amazing performance of the piece, with some truly captivating interpretation passages. Milne is extremely clear, the playing is very precise, but without being cold and unemotional. Its actually the opposite, as his performance is both technically and emotionally accomplished. Now about Tozer, well as always he plays with that refinement and elegance that makes him one of the best Medtner interpreter. It's dramatic, passioned, and very delicate. Performance reccomended : Gilels - 1:30:18​

Sonata Skazka, Op. 25 No. 1
The Medtner Sonata Skazka (Sonata Tales) is a beautiful sonata, a magical journey that perfeclty fits its name. It contains 3 movements. Eight of the remaining nine sonatas bear either an epigraph or, as here, a title indicating their general nature. The present work, otherwise called by its composer, reversing the order of priority, Märchen-Sonate, combines elements of both genres of the titles, being a sonata in layout, with the first of its three movements in regular sonata form, and a Märchen (or Skazka) in substance, particularly in the monothematic following movements: the second has a melody remarkable for anticipating Rachmaninov’s famous eighteenth variation of his ‘Paganini’ Rhapsody, written twenty-three years later; the third, a stern march in 5/2 time, incorporates reminiscences of the preceding movements.

Sonata "Night Wind", Op 25 No. 2
The most collossal sonata by Medtner. Misleadingly appearing from its numbering to be a mere appendage to the modestly scaled Sonata-Skazka, Medtner’s Sonata in E minor is in fact the composer’s most extended work in the genre, a monumental epic which taxes to the full the capacities of performer and listener alike and which some have claimed to be the greatest piano sonata of the twentieth century. It is headed by an epigraph from Tyutchev’s poem Silentium, in which the poet sees chaos as man’s natural inheritance:
What are you wailing about, night wind, what are you bemoaning with such fury? What does your strange voice mean, now indistinct and plaintive, now loud? In a language intelligible to the heart you speak of torment past understanding, and you moan and at times stir up frenzied sounds in the heart!
Oh, do not sing those fearful songs about primeval native Chaos! How avidly the world of the soul at night listens to its favourite story! It strains to burst out of the mortal breast and longs to merge with the Infinite … Oh, do not wake the sleeping tempests; beneath them Chaos stirs! Performance reccomended : Eckardstein - 3:41:48​​

Sonata Ballade, Op. 27
The composer revealed that this sonata was based on a poem by Afanasy Fet describing Christ’s temptation in the wilderness—further evidence of the spiritual element in his work and the loftiness of his inspiration. There are three movements, joined without a break. The first opens with a joyful song celebrating the radiant beauty of spring. This implies the immanence of a Creator and the need for religious faith, something seemingly denied by the second subject, restless and anxious in spirit, the conflict reflected in the cross-rhythm of the accompaniment. The struggle continues in the development, and although the buoyant mood of the opening returns, it is utterly dashed in the turbulent coda which is brought to a despairing conclusion by a series of angry chords.
Both the brief second movement, Introduzione, and the Finale are headed by quotations from the poem itself: ‘Satan stole away’, ‘And the Angels came’, charting the triumph of righteousness over evil. The malevolent ‘satanic’ theme of the Introduzione is gradually rebuffed as the movement proceeds by fragments of another melody, one that is at last heard in full as the serene second subject of the Finale. One of Medtner’s most beautiful inspirations, this was clearly special for the composer; he used it again in two other works with religious overtones, a setting of Pushkin’s poem The Muse and the Piano Quintet. After a stern fugal episode based on the satanic theme, the music culminates in a joyous restatement of the second theme and the sonata’s opening, against a background of pealing bells. Performance reccomended : Eckardstein - 4:35:21​​​, Tozer - 4:14:28​.

[LukeFaulkner]

Medtner has so many signature motifs. It's fascinating to see them pop up in different guises and contexts.

[vaclavmiller]

What an achievement! My heartfelt thanks for this great compilation!

[MusicSmith]

1:22:41 gives me chills every time. It's like a breath of fresh air

[cliffordporter]

Medtner is entirely underrated. I wonder what his contemporaries thought of his music. The weaving of the different melodic lines is akin to how Bach arranged the voices in his fugues.. Rachmaninoff's drama, I could go on. I wish I had known about Medtner decades ago. Thank you for this amazing post.

[ThePianoExperience]

This is one of the greatest achievement of the score video community. Bravo !

[SeigneurReefShark]

Part 2:
Sonata in A Minor "War", Op. 30

Ferocious, powerful, desperate and dramatic, what other adjectives could describe Medtner's 9th sonata, "War Sonata" so well? One of his best sonatas, just listen to the climax... Yeah, amazing. This sonata has only one movement. This masterpiece has been written during the 1st World War. Performance reccomended : Eckardstein - 5:44:12​.

Sonata Reminiscenza, Op. 38 No. 1
Medtner's tenth sonata, known as "Sonata Reminiscenza", opens the cycle of the great "Forgotten Melodies". This sonata starts by a beautiful motif, nostalgic, and despairing, marked Allegretto Tranquillo. This motif is particularly popular in Medtner's music, as it is reused in two other pieces from the Forgotten Melodies Cycle 1 ; the Canzona Serenata Op. 38 no. 6, and the Alla Reminiscenza Op. 38 No. 8, an extremly related work to the Sonata Reminiscenza, as it uses this motif during the whole piece, resulting in one of the most beautiful piece ever created. The piece is quickly marked by passionate accents, gradually leading to a tumultuous and more agitated part that intensifies the mood of haunted anguish, culminating in two arpeggiate cries of despair. Medtner continuously searches for colour and intensity here. The obscurity and despair is suddenly and brievly lifted by a brighter and full of hope new theme unexpectedly introduced into the recapitulation. After this theme, the piece slowly return to the tender, depressed and nostalgic atmoshpere of the opening, showing the return to the first situation. This particularly emotional Medtner's work shows perhaps Medtner’s reflection on his own difficult life and imminent departure from his homeland. Performance reccomended : Kissin - 6:25:37​​

Sonata Tragica, Op. 39 No. 5
Here is it. The storm. An emotional tempest. An unstoppable flow of emotions, dramatic, tragic, intense, full of despair, that gets at point romantic and even nostalgic, going through threatening and stormy feelings, and pure beautiful joy. That is, for me, one of the best sonata and piece ever composed for the piano. Medtner insisted on this piece to be always preceeded by the Canzona Matinata Op. 39 No. 4. Performance reccomended : Tozer (1) - 7:06:18​

Sonata Romantica Op. 53 No. 1
Medtner's Sonata Romantica is one of those works which the beauty just cannot be explained with words, only repeated listenings. It's so complex, intricate, even reserved that it can be hard to understand the first times. Though, at the point where you understand this work, you will just not be able to get rid of it. Composed of 4 movements, Romanza, a Scherzo, Meditazione, and a breathtaking finale, it is in the key of B-Flat minor. Tozer plays this masterpiece with an incredible reffinement, with an, as always, extremely contrasted playing, going between beautiful and tender pianos, and intense, passioned, even violent forte, full of bravura. Performance reccomended : Gvozdetsky - 7:58:56​

Sonata Minacciosa, Op. 53 No. 2
From the "menace" of the Italian minaccia, Medtner offered the explanation "Have I not been threatened by Life?" for the name of this turbulent, evasive piece. It is a wonderful, ambiguous and perplexing masterwork ; a departure from his previous sonatas, in both form and tonality. Medtner called it his ‘most contemporary composition’, explaining that it reflected ‘the threatening atmosphere of contemporary events’, though it was also probably as much affected by his own recent misfortunes. In one long movement, which exhaustively treats only a small amount of material, the work arguably shows Medtner at his most rigorously intellectual. In particular, the development section incorporates an elaborate fugal episode, and is remarkable as much for the range of tonalities through which it passes as for its rhythmic freedom. In a tailpiece to the coda, the composer ends the sonata in characteristic fashion with an outburst of defiant optimism. Marc-André Hamelin described it as "the most concentrated 15 minutes of music one could ever hope to play or listen to". It was dedicated to the Canadian pianist and pupil of Scriabin, Alfred La Liberté, one of Medtner's most loyal supporters. Performance reccomended : Tozer - 8:41:19​

Sonata Idylle, Op. 56
The Sonata-Idyll in G major, Op. 56 of 1937, is Medtner's fourteenth and final piano sonata. Highly contrasting with his previous Sonata Minacciosa, a threatening, stormy and intense work, the character of the the Sonata Idylle is serene and bucolic from start to finish. Dismayed by the technical difficulty of so much of his music, which in effect precluded its sale to the majority of amateur pianists, the composer’s publisher had asked him to write some less demanding—and potentially more marketable—works. The first movement, a simple ternary form, is the most technically simple solo piano work Medtner ever wrote, yet easily one of his most beautiful. The second movement is a restless sonata-allegro with three themes. It is strangely touching to think of the exiled Russian composer working on this sonata, evoking an Arcadian world, in the incongruous surroundings of the bustling North London suburb of Golders Green. Scarred by the vicissitudes of a troubled life, dispirited by the triumph of the modernism in art he so much despised and the neglect of his own work, Medtner, despite everything, never ceased composing, the faithful servant of his muse, uncompromising in his artistic integrity. To the end he remained, as Glazunov described him, ‘the firm defender of the sacred laws of eternal art’. Performance reccomended : Tozer - 8:58:54​​

[MegaCirse]

Merci Seigneur pour cette magnifique découverte .. La virtuosité incontestable de Medtner me touche particulièrement et jongle délicieusement avec la sensibilité des émotions de l'âme

[verslaflamme]

Wow. So good! This video contains most of the performances in my Medtner's sonata playlist. No longer have to choose from a playlist! If there were no copyright issues, we could hear more of beautiful performances such as Hamelin's.

[andrewpetersen]

There is a reality that comes through Medtner so different from others. It is a sense of nostalgia without affectation. Bless you for putting this fine collection together. I will be listening to it for a very long time.

[steveegallo]

A colossal His Eminence Seigneur ReefShark! BRAVO from Acapulco!

[freddiehoogewerf]

A Month later and I'm still so grateful for this upload. The same old performances on youtube got a little stale, and these performances are all incredible. Thanks again, ReefShark <3.

[WillsKeyboardSink]

could there be a more perfect video on youtube? i don’t think so.

thanks so much for this <3

[sama.]

You are doing god's work with all these Medtner uploads my friend!

[kallehed]

Man, Medtner really likes the 3 notes in a row motif

[eristaviserbia]

I would like to express my gratitude that you have taken the effort to upload Medtner's Sonatas for Piano, as interpreted by various performers. The opportunity to enjoy and compare their differing interpretations is a boon. (I must say that I enjoyed your upload of Ponochevny's interpretation of the Op. 25 No. 2! Such clarity, such passion contained within it and yet – it is so difficult for performers to actually bring these qualities to full bloom.)