Ferruccio Busoni: The 6 Sonatinas

Contents

Ferruccio Busoni (1866-1924)

1. Albumblatt 2, BV 289
2. Sonatina Ad Usum Infantis Madeline M. Americanae, No. 3, BV 268
3. Sonatina Brevis in Signo Joannis Sebastiani Magni, No. 5, BV 280
4. Sonatina In Diem Nativitatis Christi Mcmxvii, No. 4, Bv 274
5. Sonatina Super Carmen, No. 6, BV284
6. Albumblatt, BV 289
7. Sonatina, No. I, BV 257
8. Albumblatt 3, BV 289
9. Nuit de Noel, BV 251
10. Sonatina Seconda, No. 2, BV 259
11. Sonatina Quasi Sonata – Fragment
12. Victor Nicoara – Quasi Sonatina

“One day during my studies, as I came in for my piano lesson, my teacher, Andrew Ball, asked if I knew the piece the previous student was working on. The student, still there, played the first few pages and I was instantly mesmerized. Some gestures seemed familiar, but the sonority and discourse were both alien and fascinating. It turned out to be Busoni’s Sonatina Seconda. I had heard about Busoni, mostly as an editor and arranger and had some vague knowledge of a work or two, but now a strong connection was suddenly established. Shortly after the lesson I took the score out of the library and set about to learn it. I find many musicians and audience members have a similar experience with Busoni’s music. They might at best give it some polite respect once they know a bit about his extraordinary personality, but rarely have an emotional connection to it. At the same time, I personally know several people who, either through exposure (mostly from myself), or through their own study, have slowly turned relative indifference into ardent admiration.” (Victor Nicoara)