Presents
Henriette Bosmans
Sonata for Violoncello and Piano in a minor
Henrietta Bosmans (1895-1952) was born in Amsterdam. Both her parents were conservatory teachers. She studied at the Amsterdam Conservatory, piano with her mother, a professor of piano, and composition with Cornelis Dopper and Willem Pijper. She herself became a piano teacher and enjoyed a career as a touring piano soloist as well as being a composer. Most of her chamber music was composed during the first part of her career and included this sonata as well as one for violin, a piano trio and a string quartet.
The Cello Sonata dates from 1919 and was dedicated to the Belgian virtuoso cellist Marix Loevensohn. In four movements, it opens with a dark-hued Allegro maestoso. The highly dramatic main theme has a tragic, downtrodden mood to it. There is a certain sense of desperation throughout. The second movement, Un poco allegretto, is restless and somewhat unsettled. It cannot be called a scherzo but is more like an intermezzo. Third is an Adagio which could be subtitled misterioso, as there is a phantastical quality to the music. The finale, Allegro molto e con fuoco, explodes with a heavy pounding theme, dramatic, energetic and full of forward motion, stormy and more. A virtual tour d'force.
This is a masterwork. One of the very best cello sonatas from the first part of the 20th century. It is superfluous to note that it deserves concert performance. Outstanding in every way.
Parts: $24.95
