Prokofiev completed part of the first movement of this sonata, leaving behind sketches for the rest. Vladimir Blok took up these sketches and ultimately completed the first movement
The composer writes: “Lament” is a slow movement based on a short tune first presented high on the C string, in imitation of a wooden flute. The tune is fragmented and gradually reassembled, finally appearing well above the normal cello range, in harmonics. “Trilling” is a response both to my interest in rhythmic and metric interaction and to the frustrating boredom of practicing standard trill studies as a cello student. The movement proceeds with a nearly constant measured trill on one string while a slower moving line on adjacent strings continuously redefines the metric meaning of the trill. A short cadenza in the center of the piece leads to a varied recapitulation of the main idea.
(BA 5216) Barenreiter’s Scholarly Critical Performing Edition is a compilation of four handwritten sources and the first printed edition. With accompanying text and facsimiles, this is a wealth of information for those undertaking a critical and historical study of Bach’s masterpieces for cello. Also included is a clean, unannotated copy to mark as you wish.
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