Violin Sonata (Debussy)

The Violin Sonata in G minor, L 140, for violin and piano was composed by Claude Debussy in 1917. It was the composer's last major composition and the third work in what had originally been conceived as a cycle of six sonatas for various instruments (the first two being the cello sonata, L 135, and the sonata for flute, viola and harp, L 137). The work is notable for its brevity; a typical performance lasts about 13 minutes. The premiere took place on 5 May 1917, the violin part played by Gaston Poulet, with Debussy himself at the piano. It was his last public performance.

Movements

The work has three movements:

1. Allegro vivo
2. Intermède: Fantasque et léger
3. Finale: Très animé

Selected recordings

• Debussy Violin sonata. HMV ALP 1520, recorded 1948. Ginette Neveu - violin, Jean Neveu - piano
• Debussy Violin sonata. Decca LP LXT2810, recorded 1953. Christian Ferras - violin, Pierre Barbizet - piano
• Prokofiev Violin Sonata No.2, Debussy Violin sonata, Milhaud Violin Sonata No.2. Decca LP LXT6351, recorded 1967. Ion Voicu - violin, Monique Haas - piano
• Janáček, Debussy, Poulenc, Ježek: Violin sonatas. Supraphon CD (SU 3547-2 101). Josef Suk - violin, Jan Panenka - piano
• Debussy/Ravel/Ysaÿe: Violin Sonatas/Prokofiev: 5 Mélodies. David Oistrakh - violin, Frida Bauer - piano, 1966
• Debussy, Ravel, Messiaen, Dubugnon: Beau Soir. Decca CD. Janine Jansen - violin, Itamar Golan - piano

See also

• List of compositions by Claude Debussy
• List of compositions by Claude Debussy by Lesure Numbers

External links

• Violin Sonata: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
• Recording performed by Nicola Benedetti, violin and Julien Quentin, piano from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in MP3 format