Karel Husa
Liner Notes   Cat. No. 80493     Release Date: 1995-01-01

Elmar Oliveira, violin; Peter Basquin, piano; Barbara Ann Martin, soprano

Two major additions to the Karel Husa discography, the Sonata for Violin and Piano, and the Sonata No. 2 for Piano, demonstrate the composer’s ability to infuse classical forms with fresh, novel ideas, availing himself of a wide range of compositional devices.

In the Sonata for Violin and Piano (1972-73) he uses sliding tones producing space-like effects, quarter-tones, and short and fast repeated figures reminiscent of bird calls; and for the piano, the implementation of clusters and extreme high and low registers and inside-the-piano plucking. The first movement is moderately fast and free, a dramatic recitative; the second movement resembles a slow aria; the Interlude explores constant repetition of a high note; the last movement, following without interruption, is a fast and frantic toccata.

Sonata No. 2 (1975) is in three movements and is written in a virtuosic style, using twentieth-century language: new sonorities in the highest and lowest registers and softest and loudest passages. There is extensive use of pedals, especially the sostenuto, as well as some playing inside the piano, all in often strongly contrasting sounds. The beautiful, evocative Twelve Moravian Songs (1955) complete the disc.

Various Artists

Karel Husa

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Track Listing

Sonata for Violin and Piano: Movement I
Karel Husa
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Sonata for Violin and Piano: Movement II
Karel Husa
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Sonata for Violin and Piano: Interlude
Karel Husa
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Sonata for Violin and Piano: Movement III
Karel Husa
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Sonata No. 2 for Piano: Movement I
Karel Husa
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Sonata No. 2 for Piano: Movement II
Karel Husa
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Sonata No. 2 for Piano: Movement III
Karel Husa
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Twelve Moravian Songs: Sunrise
Karel Husa
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Twelve Moravian Songs: Who Is That?
Karel Husa
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Twelve Moravian Songs: The Deserter
Karel Husa
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Twelve Moravian Songs: Between Two Mountains
Karel Husa
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Twelve Moravian Songs: When I Sing
Karel Husa
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Twelve Moravian Songs: What Is Wrong
Karel Husa
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Twelve Moravian Songs: Song for Dancing
Karel Husa
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Twelve Moravian Songs: Echo in The Mountains
Karel Husa
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Twelve Moravian Songs: The Snowball
Karel Husa
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Twelve Moravian Songs: Aspen Leaves
Karel Husa
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Twelve Moravian Songs: Lost Love
Karel Husa
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Twelve Moravian Songs: Homeland, Goodbye
Karel Husa
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