Back to 3 Grandes Sonates
This edition of the Grande Sonate in E flat is based on the sole source, the manuscript Ms 2497 in the Bibliothèque nationale de France.
There are three piano sonatas by Reicha entitled “Grande Sonate”. Despite the French title, they were written when Reicha was living in Vienna, before his final move to Paris in 1808.
At that time, in the Austrian capital, Reicha was renewing his friendship with Beethoven and, though we have no documentary evidence for it, it was perhaps the latter’s example that influenced Reicha to write piano sonatas that were more expansive in style than his earlier ones.
Press reviews
The writing is agile and energetic, with the harmonies sometimes looking forward to Chopin. An enjoyable discovery, suitable for pianists of a very high level.
Pianiste
Over a hundred of Reicha’s compositions have been published and a great number still remain in manuscript, among which many are of the highest importance to the art of music.
Hector Berlioz, Journal des Débats, 3 July 1836
Audio Excerpts
1 – Largo
2 – Allegro moderato e maestoso
3 – Finale. Allegro assai
Contents
- 1 – Largo
- 2 – Allegro moderato e maestoso
- 3 – Finale. Allegro assai