Presents
Alexander Goedicke
Violin Sonata No.1 in A Major, Op.10
Alexander Goedicke, sometimes spelled Gedike (1877-1957) was born in Moscow and attended the Moscow Conservatory where he studied piano and organ. It is not known for sure whether he actually took formal composition lessons although some sources indicate that he did study composition with Anton Arensky, Nikolai Ladoukhine and Georgy Konyus, while others claim he was self-taught which seems unlikely in view of the quality of his compositions which won several prestigious prizes. He eventually became a professor of piano and organ at the Moscow Conservatory. Goedicke composed in most genres and did not neglect chamber music, for which he penned a piano trio, a piano quintet, two string quartets and several instrumental sonatas.
His Sonata for Violin and Piano in A Major, Op.10 was composed in 1899 and dedicated to Jan Hrimaly, Professor of Violin at the Moscow Conservatory. Goedicke entered it in the prestigious Third Rubinstein Competition held in Vienna in 1900 and it won him first prize in composition. It is a lovely work, nicknamed "Spring" because it quotes in the first movement a melody from a song of that name by Rachmaninov. The lovely main theme to the opening movement, Allegro, is bright and upbeat. A second subject is very Russian sounding. The lyrical middle movement, Andante sostenuto ma non troppo, is calm and reflective with an under current of unrest. The finale, Allegro molto e con brio, is triumphant and full of youthful energy.
It is not hard to see why this sonata took first prize and the Rubinstein competition. It is a marvelous work which would be an adornment in any violinist's recital repetoire.
Parts: $24.95
