Prokofiev's Piano Sonata No. 7 is described as a 'Guernica in B-flat major,' a triumphant musical condemnation of war that pushes the limits of madness.
Compositional Technique
In Prokofiev's Piano Sonata No. 6, the first movement features a 'fist-hammering' three-note motif that pervades the entire sonata, with some clusters of notes meant to be played with the fist.
Historical Context
Prokofiev completed his Piano Sonata No. 7 in 1942, during World War II, after the USSR entered the war following Operation Barbarossa and the US joined after Pearl Harbor.
Composition History
The 'War Sonatas' (Nos. 6, 7, and 8) by Prokofiev were conceived as a single work in ten movements, though completed individually between 1940 and 1944.
Performer Biography
David Jalbert, the pianist on this album, has been named by the CBC as one of the 15 best Canadian pianists of all time and is a professor of piano at the University of Ottawa.
Composer Biography
Sergei Prokofiev, the composer, returned to the Soviet Union in 1936, the year he composed 'Peter and the Wolf', hoping to find freedom to compose without worries.
Critical Reception
Pianist Sviatoslav Richter, who first performed Prokofiev's Piano Sonata No. 6 after the composer, praised its 'perfect construction' and 'barbaric boldness' in breaking with romantic ideals.
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Prokofiev: Piano Sonata No. 8 in B-Flat Major, Op. 84
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