Spisak, Michał (1914-1965)
Sonatina (10:00) Paris, 1946 Publisher: PWM (c1959)
I. Allegro
II. Andante
III. Allegro
Instrumentation: oboe, clarinet, bassoon
This composition was dedicated to the French Trio Daraux and it is noted that one of the first performances was at the Prague Spring Festival in 1948. This neoclassical composition is very angular and chromatic, with a lot of passing notes, which are many times in unison in all the voices. Each movement is built in a closed form with the same thematic material beginning and ending the movement. The composer treats each instrument as a soloist at different points in the piece, starting with the clarinet and ending with a bassoon. Except for the very lyrical and expressive middle movement, the composition is highly spirited. It is interesting to point out that the bassoon theme from the third movement was used in his later work “Concerto Giocoso” for chamber orchestra written in 1957.
This composition is highly virtuosic and requires very careful rehearsal, accurate rhythmical playing, dynamic flexibility and accuracy of the intonation, especially in the running unison melodies. This is a very rewarding piece to play and one of Spisak’s most popular pieces.
PWM publishes this piece with the oboe part as a part of the score only. However, there is a new version published by Euterpe that has all the instrumental parts separate.
Grade: V-VI
Recordings: Szalowski, Spisak, Palester, Lutosławski, Tansman, Krauze, Krakowskie Trio Stroikowe (Crocow Reed Trio), Lebel: DUX 0493, 2005, Lubelskie Reed Trio (www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xy2lkFJhg5A)
Sheet music source: pwm.com.pl, sheetmusicplus.com, euterpe.pl