Paul Hindemith: English Horn Sonata (1941)

00:00 - I. Langsam
03:08 - II. Allegro pesante
04:29 - III. Moderato
06:36 - IV. Scherzo, schnell
07:24 - V. Moderato
10:22 - VI. Allegro pesante
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English Horn: Thomas Indermühle
Piano: Kalle Randalu
Year of Recording: 1996
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"The six tempi in this sonata are grouped ambiguosly; we cannot be quite sure whether there are three movements (with two tempi each) or, more likely, only two (with four tempi in movement II). Much more interesting than the division into movements is how the six tempi hang together. A close look at the structural design reveals that the entire sonata is conceived as a two-tempo movement with two variations.

The opening is marked "slow." The english horn presents three expressive phrases accompanied by a rhythmically almost unchanging piano part. In the central section, there is more dialogue both in the sense that the two instruments are now listening to each other rather than only going in tandem and in that the piano imitates a long melodic phrase, relegating the swift accompaniment figures to its partner. The "slow" tempo ends with a recapitulation of the initial section. Without interruption, a very much contrasting Allegro pesante follows, introduced by repetitive piano figures in straight metric order and with strong accents. Again, the piano does little to cut into the supremacy of its partner, leaving the bouncing main theme and the more swinging secondary idea entirely to the english horn and only gaining some degree of independence in the code. What is intriguing in this ostensibly simple piece is that the two instruments play throughout in two different keys. The piano's "home key," F, is confirmed at the end of the code with a cadence into F minor. By contrast, the tonal center of the English horn, C, remains unresolved. The "soloist," listening to the suddenly active accompanist, fails, as it were, to leave his G in time to return to C!" (Siglind Bruhn)
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