Matsudaira, Yoritsune : Sonatine
Work Overview
Instrumentation：Piano Solo
Genre：sonatina
Copyright：Under Copyright Protection
Commentary (2)
Author : Hirano, Takatoshi
Last Updated: April 20, 2018
[Open]
Author : Hirano, Takatoshi
Compositional Notes
Composed in 1947, a year Matsudaira himself called his "Neoclassical Period," this piece was premiered the following year by Tatsue Tanaka. Preceding his Piano Sonata (1949), it is a short work that demonstrates Matsudaira's deep familiarity with the idiom of French piano music. Yasuji Kiyose, who heard this work broadcast, stated that he was "utterly astonished by its masterly style and French character."
According to Matsudaira, both the first and second themes of the first movement are based on Greek modes. The ornamental notes, including leaps, in the melody of the second theme, and the syncopation in the transitional section, possess an elegant charm. In the second movement, which corresponds to a minuet, Gagaku's Yatara rhythm (2/4 + 3/4) is employed, and despite the frequent use of chords, it sounds light. In the third movement, a type of toccata, the right hand, with a key signature of F-sharp major, is combined with the left hand, which has no key signature, and according to Matsudaira, the first theme is written in the Ryo mode, and the second theme in the Ritsu mode.
After being published in 1973 as Zen-On Piano Piece 437, it was included in the same publisher's Yoritsune Matsudaira Piano Works (1991). There is almost no difference between the piano piece version and the collection version, but the treatment of the endings of the second and third movements differs slightly.
Author : Hirano, Takatoshi
Last Updated: April 20, 2018
[Open]
Author : Hirano, Takatoshi
Sonatine pour piano, composed in 1947 during ‘the period of neoclassicism’ Matsudaira called himself, and premiered the next year by Tatsue Tanaka, proves that Matsudaira was deeply familiar with French piano music. Yasuji Kiyose, who listened to this piece on the radio, said that he was ‘surprised at Matsudaira’s maturity and familiarity with French music.’ According to the composer, the two themes in the first movement are based on ancient Greek modes. The leaping grace notes in the second theme and the syncopation in the transition sound particularly elegant. The second movement, a menuetto, is based on the Yatara Byōshi (2/4 + 3/4), a rhythm characteristic of gagaku, which makes the texture thin despite the frequent use of chords. In the final movement, a sort of toccata, the right hand’s part written in F sharp major is combined with that of the left hand without key signatures. As Matsudaira says, the first theme is written in the ryo mode and the second in the ritsu mode. Sonatine was first published as the Zen-On Piano Pieces 437, then included in his OEuvres pour piano, published by Zen-On Music Company in 1991.