Joachim Raff - Violin Sonata No. 2 (Audio + Score)

The Violin Sonata No. 2 in A major, Op. 78 was composed over the winter of 1857-58, by which time Raff had moved to Wiesbaden to join his fiancée, Doris Genast. Here, away from Liszt’s circle, he was slowly gaining recognition as a composer of merit, while earning a modestly independent living as a music teacher. Dedicated to the great Austrian violinist Joseph Hellmesberger, the Sonata was published in 1861, and its first public performance was given by Friedrich Seelmann (violin) and Bernhard Rollfuss (piano) at Kronefelds Hall in Dresden on 8 March 1862. Although never quite attaining the great popularity of the First Sonata, it was also successful enough to merit three more editions, and Raff again arranged it for piano four hands.
No doubt reflecting the positive change in his circumstances triggered by Raff’s move to Wiesbaden, this is an altogether more relaxed work than its predecessor, and is the largest of his violin sonatas. The genial and expansive opening movement’s marking of Rasch, mit Wärme und Bewegung (‘Quick, with warmth and animation’) is an apt summary of the piece, which bowls along rapidly in a generally good-natured way while never lapsing into commonplace. The slow movement in A minor, Nicht zu langsam (‘Not too slow’) is placed second, and is a set of variations on an original theme which Raff describes as Im Volkston, zart, naiv-schwermütig (‘Folksy, tender, naïve-melancholy’). The movement develops rhapsodically through a succession of contrasting variations, leading to an impassioned final section. So typical of his mature slow movements in its lyrical intensity, it is a real gem. Raff moves to F major for the brief, dance-like third movement, In raschem Zeitmaße, doch nicht zu bewegt (‘In quick tempo, yet not too lively’), which, while not as melodically rich as the first two, still provides an effective interlude before the arrival of the lively finale. In this movement, marked Rasch und feurig (‘Quick and fiery’), Raff offers contrasting passages of virtuoso fireworks and sweet lyricism in one of his most effective conclusions to a major work. Echoing the genial character of the first movement, it satisfyingly rounds off this warm-hearted, open-air work.
(Naxos)

[@richardyu3591]

nice one thanks!