Nielsen, C.: Sonatas Nos. 1 & 2 / Solo Violin Works

Featuring

Georgios Demertzis
Maria Asteriadou
Carl August Nielsen

Did you know?

1/7

Composition History

The second violin sonata by Carl Nielsen was originally described as being 'in G minor,' but this key designation was removed before its premiere because it didn't accurately reflect the work's sound.

Critical Reception

Despite its free tonality and technical daring, Carl Nielsen's Preludio e Presto was praised by critics, with one calling him the "Bach redivivus of the solo violin sonata."

Critical Reception

Carl Nielsen's 1895 Violin Sonata in A major was initially met with harsh criticism, with reviewers calling it "strange and twisted" and full of "imprecise floods of notes."

Composer Biography

Carl Nielsen, the composer, began his musical journey with the violin, learning first from his father and then from local teachers.

Performer Biography

Georgios Demertzis, the violinist on this recording, is the founder of the New Hellenic Quartet and has premiered many Greek works, several of which are dedicated to him.

Composition History

The Hungarian violinist Emil Telmányi, who later married Nielsen's daughter, played a crucial role in the creation of both of Carl Nielsen's solo violin works.

Compositional Technique

For his Preludio e Presto for solo violin, Carl Nielsen deliberately omitted bar lines and used accidentals only for specific notes, reflecting a liberation from traditional tonality.