Haydn: 6 Sonatas for Violin and Viola

Featuring

Anton Steck
Christian Goosses
Joseph Haydn

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Composer Biography

Joseph Haydn, though primarily known as a composer, was also a versatile performer throughout his career, playing instruments like organ, piano, violin, viola, and baryton.

Composition History

The six sonatas for Violin and Viola were likely composed by Haydn between 1769 and 1773.

Critical Reception

These six violin sonatas were very popular during Haydn's lifetime, evidenced by the circulation of two arrangements in addition to the original scoring.

Historical Context

The arrangements of these sonatas for violin and bass or two violins were likely prompted by the viola's low status at the time.

Composer Biography

Haydn's contract as Vice-Kapellmeister to the royal house of Esterházy in 1761 required him to maintain and demonstrate his skills on various instruments.

Compositional Technique

All final movements of these sonatas are minuets with variations, a form rarely used by Haydn and never as exclusively as here.

Compositional Technique

In these sonatas, the violin is treated as a concertante instrument, with the viola primarily serving an accompanying role, a direct development from Baroque sonatas.