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Zoltán Kodály - Sonata for Solo Cello

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•12 Oct 2015

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- Composer: Zoltán Kodály (16 December 1882 -- 6 March 1967)

- Performer: Jacob Koranyi

- Year of recording: 2010 (Live in Stockholm, Sweden)

Sonata in B minor for solo cello, Op. 8, written in 1915.

00:00 - I. Allegro maestoso ma appassionato

09:00 - II. Adagio con gran espressione

20:53 - III. Allegro molto vivace

This composition is widely considered the greatest of a small field of works written for solo cello,
since Johann Sebastian Bach’s Cello Suites. According to Calum McDonald, “Had he written nothing
else apart from this magnificent sonata, Kodály would still deserve to be accounted one of the
greatest musical geniuses that Hungary has ever produced”.

The piece contains influences of Debussy and Bartók, as well as the inflections and nuances of
Hungarian folk music. It wavers between B minor and B major, and Kodály adjusted the two lower
strings down a semitone (scordatura) to better evoke these tonalities and to extend the instrument’s
tonal, dynamic and expressive range.

The sonata was written in 1915, but its premiere was delayed due to World War I so the Budapest
premiere was on 7 May 1918 by Jenő Kerpely.
Kodály himself predicted that “in 25 years no cellist will be accepted who has not played it”. Indeed,
less than 40 years later, in 1956, the sonata was a set piece for the Casals Competition in Mexico
City. But in the meantime it had yet to earn its recognition.

The piece has become quite attached to cellist János Starker, who has recorded the piece 4 times,
much to the approval of Kodály who said to him: “If you correct the ritard in the third movement, it
will be the Bible performance”. However, I chose another excellent recent performance by Koranyi,
that deserves at least as much recognition as Starker’s great recordings (IMHO).

88 Comments

teshigahara yobayashi

Add a public comment...

胡david

胡david

1 year ago

It's strange to hear a low C natural with heavy vibrato

126

Yiğit Vural

Yiğit Vural

4 years ago

+18 to watch

119

Ethan Harris

Ethan Harris

1 year ago

Looks at cello, looks at the music, looks at cello, looks at the music, contemplates life choices.

33

Cortana

Cortana

1 year ago (edited)

Angrily throws cello out the window

I give up.

33
Pentameron

Pentameron

1 year ago

0:06 - I. Allegro maestoso ma appassionato

9:02 - II. Adagio con gran espressione

20:54 - III. Allegro molto vivace

46

Jeffrey Jones

Jeffrey Jones

2 years ago

That is CRAZY how he can have those bottom two strings tuned down, and still keep his bearings. It's
got to play hell with your muscle memory.

40

lukisIVIII

lukisIVIII

1 year ago

The day I discovered this piece of music, violin stopped being my second favourite instrument. Bring
it on, cello!

22

Berkley Nash

Berkley Nash

1 year ago

Expert difficult on guitar hero be like:

16

Peenut

Peenut

8 months ago

I know this thing is super hard, but the one thing I always think about is how annoying it must be to
constantly retune your cello if this isn't the only thing you're practicing.

7
scottbos68

scottbos68

4 years ago

This is a real treasure.

Every time I hear the name Kodaly I think of the duo for violin and cello and have always associated
his music with Bartok.

Hungarian music is always so charming - the exoticness of that gypsy sound is always creeping in
there - a sound I have no doubt the great Brahms found so intoxicatingly charming.

51

Am I Here ?

Am I Here ?

1 year ago

I will never tire of this incredible piece of music

Matías Couriel

Matías Couriel

8 months ago

Amazing performance! Lot of details and nuances achieved

「CELLO KID」

「CELLO KID」

10 months ago

This piece is mighty great!!

Pamela Roberts

Pamela Roberts

1 year ago (edited)

Thank you so much for sharing this online. I am working on the Kodaly after 30 years away from my
cello (had to change careers due to an injury from a car wreck). Now I am retired so I'm giving it
another go. Your playing is completely inspired. Thank you for the gift of sharing.

14

Bubblegum
Bubblegum

9 months ago

Woah bruh

K. R.

K. R.

1 year ago

Beautiful*

Robin Park

Robin Park

3 years ago

This is THE best recording out there, better than Starker's in my opinion. Amazing!

22

Da Coco Nut Nut

Da Coco Nut Nut

1 month ago

5:29 I'm not a cellist but... ouch

Kamilo Gaete

Kamilo Gaete

2 years ago

Thanks for sharing!!! amazing piece of music and this cellist is unbelievable!!

11

surfaceslider

surfaceslider

1 year ago

~ 24:05 is like running blue:)

uwuito

uwuito
2 months ago (edited)

the worst nightmare of perfect pitch gang

Timur Wilson

Timur Wilson

2 years ago

This is the first thing I'll play on cello :)

Giovanni Smartini

Giovanni Smartini

4 years ago

Oh your back I'm so happy !!!!

캬륜하

캬륜하

3 years ago

I like this music!

곡이 정말 좋아요! ㅎㅎ 근데 너무 어렵다는거..ㅜㅜ

Arina Lernik

1 year ago

The palette of emotions put in this piece is everlasting. Each sound means a great deal to the
composer and sure as hell to the performer as well.

Kenny Gilbert

2 months ago

The Royalty claim on this video disgusts me

Noah Mason

9 months ago

Sounds like it's performed a half step down from what is actually written
1

Alan Ding

2 years ago

Interesting how the lower notes are one semitone flat but higher notes sound as written. Seems like
the strings are tuned differently?

Joltran

1 year ago

Smh

Sébastien JeanPois

1 month ago (edited)

19 people missed the like button

William Wyant

2 years ago

Is an intermediate cellist about to go to a pretty good music school

Hasn't been totally confident in abilities lately

Hears this piece for the first time

Downloads a copy before the first page is even over

31

TenorCantusFirmus

3 years ago

Sincerely, in my opinion this one edges out everything has been written for either accompained or
unaccompained solo cello, probably even Bach's Suites (probably the only time Bach is in my opinion
beaten by another composer...).

14

Alan Ferris

7 months ago

Riviting

Camden Wentz

2 years ago
I've only been playing cello for 2 years and already have the first two pages almost nailed!

11

Metal Pug

5 days ago

Jesus the cello isn’t a violin

Emmanuel Massarotti

2 years ago

Very beautiful try to transcibe this master piece, but sorry, there are many errors in the score. So, i
would like to say thank you, but i really can totally not. Please, if you could correct some, it would be
great, then thank you. Best regards and respect