Eugène Ysaÿe, the composer, was born into a family of violinists in Liège and began his studies at the Liège Conservatoire at age seven.
Compositional Technique
The Sonatas are precisely tailored to the violin's strength and sonority, exploiting beautiful technical and physical motion to create music of equal beauty.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Ysaÿe, like Paganini, valued technical virtuosity but regarded it as a vehicle for emotional expression, believing mastery of tools was necessary for the spirit to express itself without restraint.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Ysaÿe's Sonatas are described as monumental, with gothic themes, drama, and poignancy, juxtaposing Wagnerian swagger with delicate moments reminiscent of Debussy.
Instruments
Jack Liebeck performs on the 'Ex-Wilhelmj' J.B. Guadagnini violin, dated 1785, and the 'Professor David Bennett' Joseph Henry bow.
Composition History
Ysaÿe's Six Sonatas for solo violin were composed in just 24 hours, inspired by a performance of J.S. Bach's Sonata for solo violin in G minor by Hungarian violinist Joseph Szigeti.
Performer Biography
Jack Liebeck, the violinist on this recording, founded the Oxford May Music festival to combine Music, Science, and Art, and has collaborated with physicist Professor Brian Cox on symphonic science programs.
