Presents
Alexander Goedicke
Violin Sonata No.2 in D Major, Op.83
Fifty four years separate Goedicke's Violin Sonata No.2 in D Major from his first violin sonata. He worked on it for five years finally completing it in 1953 at the age of 76. It was not, however, published until 15 years after his death. Hearing just the first movement, Allegro con brio, one might well conclude that this sonata is more conservative and backward looking than his first despite the fact that it was composed in the mid 20th century. At times, it sounds rather like something Beethoven or even Bach might have written. The somber second movement, Largo, actually quotes a snippet out Beethoven and the mood is certainly a rather severe Beethovian one. The wild Scherzo, allegro animato which comes next is not something which Beethoven could not have written, it is music from the late 19th century, thrusting and energetic. The lively finale, Allegro con brio, returns to the era of Bach.
Alexander Goedicke, sometimes spelled Gedike (1877-1957) was born in Moscow and attended the Moscow Conservatory where he studied piano and organ. It is not known for sure whether he actually took formal composition lessons although some sources indicate that he did study composition with Anton Arensky, Nikolai Ladoukhine and Georgy Konyus, while others claim he was self-taught which seems unlikely in view of the quality of his compositions which won several prestigious prizes. He eventually became a professor of piano and organ at the Moscow Conservatory. Goedicke composed in most genres and did not neglect chamber music, for which he penned a piano trio, a piano quintet, two string quartets and several instrumental sonatas.
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