Medtner - Canzona Matinata, Op. 39/4 (Tozer)

The Canzona Matinata, meaning "morning song", is the fourth piece in the Op. 39 cycle Forgotten Melodies II ("Vergessene Weisen").
The canzona is said by Medtner to represent the youthful, optimistic period of life, in stark contrast to the following Sonata tragica, which he saw as the tragic reality of life. It is in G major and begins with a lovely singing theme imbued with tender grace notes. The phrase is repeated (00:37) in a varied and more excited form. A new melody follows (00:56), syncopated and broken up by rests, and gains further excitement until the canzona's first 'forte'.
The second section is in F sharp minor (01:24), tonally more distant and melancholic. This theme is later repeated in the much darker Sonata tragica. One can see this middle section as introducing some light worries, grey clouds on the sky of youth - but which are nothing in comparison to the later agony accompanying them in the Sonata tragica.
In the third section, we hear the theme again, this time in three guises (02:10, 02:43, 03:10). After the climax, a fantastic deceptive cadence follows (03:34). Then, the closing phrase from the first section can be heard again (03:40).
Tozer's phrasing and tone on this recording are great. He also plays the piece with a bit more vigour in the climactic moments than can be usually heard. Often, the canzona is played very serenely and placidly - which it, in part, also is. But the score is also full of marking such as "con moto", "accelerando", or "affretando" (meaning "hurriedly"). After all, this is a youthful piece, not just a peaceful piece.

Full Op. 39 Playlist:    • Medtner - Meditazione, Op 39/1 (Tozer)