Greatest Sonatas:

What are some of the greatest, most influential sonatas (piano, violin, etc.) ever written?

Well. Some of my FAVORITE sonatas are:

Mozart K. 331

Beethoven Op. 42 no. 2

The Rachmaninoff Sonatas

Chopin No. 3

Hindemith's Viola sonata

Franck's Violin Sonata

Dvor

Samuel Barber Piano Sonata hands down. Amazing piece and sadly more neglected than it should be!

The Franck Sonata is popular, extremely popular. I don't rightly know if that makes it great or influential... it sure is purdy, tho.

And while I also think the Barber piano sonata is a tremendous piece, I don't think you ned to fear for its popularity or state of neglect. It could depend on the musical circles in which you travel, but I have never met a pianist who hasn't played it.

Strangely, I'm rather hard pressed to think of any contemporary sonatas that I consider "marking" (other than the Barber). Maybe the Ravel violin sonata? That could be that I'm not much of a sonata person.

Or how about the Debussy Sonate for viola, harp, and flute? It certainly pushes the envelope of what a sonata is.

I would say any of the late scriabin sonatas as well, certainly for pushing the envelope.

What are the greatest Mozart sonatas?

Brahms clarinet sonatas - and the viola transcriptions of such.

Also, while not especially influential, the Borodin and Rachmaninoff cello sonatas are outstanding.

I personally enjoyed the Carl Vine Piano Sonatas.

And, I adore the Barber... and the Rachmaninoff.

From Mozart's sonatas I think the most influential was the A minor sonata.

What about from his lesser known sonata works?

I think Mozart was less influential in the sonata field....he was far more influential in the concerto and symphony forms.

What this obsession with "the greatest blah blah" thing?

Well who wrote a lot of sonatas?

And I would argue that we are talking about the sonata form and not the "sonata" as a name which brodens the horizons... ;)

Strangely, I'm rather hard pressed to think of any contemporary sonatas that I consider "marking" (other than the Barber). Maybe the Ravel violin sonata?

Or how about Shostakovitch's cello sonata? In my opinion a true masterpiece of the 20th century.

[quote name='Nickie F

HEY NICKIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

First off: Welcome.

secondly, I'm afraid I only know his concerti for the instrument.

and thirdly, :) I thought you were going to say MY cello sonata!

hehehehe

Thanks, Michel.

I suppose I should have mentioned your cello sonata and even more the clarinet sonata, but I think I have embarrased you enough for the moment. We don't want you to get cocky. :)

Prokoviev (violin/flute sonata, and the piano sonatas).

You can safely include his cello sonata. It is a wonderful work.

And then there are the 3 gorgeous cello sonatas by Martinu.

And of course Britten's cello sonata.

ooo, you reminded me... Martinu.. didn't he write a beautiful flute sonata? I have a violin sonata of his (the score) but I've never performed it! So I don't really know what it sounds like (I mean other than playing the piano part).

It reminds me of all the flute sonatas I accompanied as a student, back when: the Poulenc (gorgeous piece), Dutilleux (a "sonatine" if memory serves, but a beautiful piece), the eternal Hindemith, the previously mentionned Prokoviev, Franck (I always liked that piece)...

ooo, you reminded me... Martinu.. didn't he write a beautiful flute sonata?

Yes, he did. At least I think it is beautiful - I have not heard it in a long time.

Charles Ives! : D

Prokofiev's 2nd and 3rd Piano sonata

I like Debussy's sonata for cello and piano, and I sooooooo totally adore the Berg piano sonata. Amazing piece...