Presents
Ernst Naumann
Sonata for Viola and Piano in f minor, Op.1
Ernst Naumann (1832-1910) was born in the German town of Freiberg in Saxony. He studied music at the Leipzig Conservatory with Moritz Hauptmann and Ernst Friedrich Richter and made his name primarily as a organist, editor and conductor. He served as Kapellmeister of Jena from 1860 until his death fifty years later. His compositions were not numerous and a large part of them are chamber music. His chamber music consists of a string trio, a string quartet, two viola quintets, a nonet and a trio for piano, violin and viola.
His Sonata in g minor for Viola and Piano as the opus number suggests was an early work dating from 1855 and dedicated to his compositoin teacher Moritz Hauptmann. The opening movement, Molto allegro, is by turns turbulent and lyrical. The middle movement, Adagio molto espressivo, starts off as a kind of Mendelssohnian Song Without Words, however a stormy middle section completely changes the quiet mood. The finale, Allegro con fuoco, is energetic and lively and at times full of fire.
This sonata is an important addition to the mid-romantic era repetoire for viola and violists should miss a chance to play and perform this fine work
Parts: $24.95
