Nikolai Karlovich Medtner ： Forgotten Melodies Book 2 Sonata Tragica Op.39-5

Included in Medtner’s Forgotten Melodies Book 2, this sonata is marked by tension and dramatic momentum. Heavy chords and sharp rhythms drive the music forward, while contrasting ideas lend depth and shading to its progression. Within its single movement, the tension builds in stages toward powerful climaxes, making this gradual intensification one of the work’s central attractions. In performance, it is important to clarify the balance among the voices without allowing the inner parts to disappear, and to preserve density of sound even in forceful passages. Rather than letting the rapid motion carry the music away, performers should clearly shape the direction of each phrase and the tension of the rests, bringing out the sonata’s tragic character.