Sonata No.

7, III

Composed by Sergei Prokofiev

Sergei Prokofiev, 1891-1953
● Russian Soviet composer, pianist, and conductor
● Left Russia after Revolution of 1917 and returned in 1936
● Wrote his first piano piece at 5 years old, and his first opera at 9
● Attacked for producing “anti-democratic formalism” in 1948
● Died the same day as Joseph Stalin, a Soviet revolutionary
● Chronically ill, terminal illness is uncertain
Prokofiev’s Musical Style
● Inspired by hearing his mother practice piano
● Works range from ballets to film music
● Influenced by futurism
- Futurism = an early 20th century movement that influenced painting, poetry, music, etc.
- Introduced experimental sounds and rejected tradition
● Used atonality and dissonance in several of his works
Performance of the Piece
Sonata No. 7, III (1942)
● First performed in 1943 by Sviatoslav Richter
● Contains Prokofiev’s most dissonant music for piano
● Is said to express Prokofiev’s true feelings
● Known as one of Prokofiev’s “War Sonatas”
● Musical elements:
- Medium = piano
- Very dissonant
- Toccata (a virtuosic piece of music written for piano or string instrument)