Martin Jones - Czerny: Piano Sonatas, Vol. 2 (2010)

Tracklist

01. Piano Sonata No. 11 in D-Flat Major, Op. 730: I. Allegro agitato con spirito
02. Piano Sonata No. 11 in D-Flat Major, Op. 730: II. Adagio con espressione
03. Piano Sonata No. 11 in D-Flat Major, Op. 730: III. Scherzo. Molto allegro
04. Piano Sonata No. 11 in D-Flat Major, Op. 730: IV. Finale. Allegretto con anima
05. Chanson sans Paroles No. 1 in A-Flat Major, Op. 795
06. Sonata No. 1 in A-Flat Major, Op. 7: I. Andante - Allegro moderato ed espressivo
07. Sonata No. 1 in A-Flat Major, Op. 7: II. Prestissimo agitato
08. Sonata No. 1 in A-Flat Major, Op. 7: III. Adagio espressivo e cantabile
09. Sonata No. 1 in A-Flat Major, Op. 7: IV. Rondo. Allegretto
10. Sonata No. 1 in A-Flat Major, Op. 7: V. Capriccio Fugato. Tempo moderato
11. Piano Sonata No. 2 in A Minor, Op. 13: I. Molto allegro
12. Piano Sonata No. 2 in A Minor, Op. 13: II. Adagio sostenuto
13. Piano Sonata No. 2 in A Minor, Op. 13: III. Scherzo. Presto - Trio
14. Piano Sonata No. 2 in A Minor, Op. 13: IV. Allegro agitato
15. Piano Sonata No. 2 in A Minor, Op. 13: V. A la Fuga. Allegro energico
16. Character Etude No. 1 in A Major, Op. 755
17. Sonatine in A Major, Op. 167: I. Allegro moderato
18. Sonatina in A Major, Op. 167: II. Adagio serioso ed espressivo
19. Sonatina in A Major, Op. 167: III. Scherzo. Vivo
20. Sonatina in A Major, Op. 167: IV. Rondo. Allegro non troppo
21. Piano Sonata No. 7 in E Minor, Op. 143: I. Allegro spiritoso
22. Piano Sonata No. 7 in E Minor, Op. 143: II. Andante. Sempre legato
23. Piano Sonata No. 7 in E Minor, Op. 143: III. Scherzo. Allegro vivo
24. Piano Sonata No. 7 in E Minor, Op. 143: IV. Allegretto
25. Piano Sonata No. 7 in E Minor, Op. 143: V. Finale. Allegro molto

Martin Jones's second volume of the piano sonatas of Carl Czerny covers the beginning and end of Czerny's work in the genre, and on the whole the music is more understated than what's in Jones's first volume. This one opens with Czerny's last sonata, No. 11, which dates from 1843, more than 20 years later than the Sonata No. 1 (1820), which is also on the first disc here. The sonata has more lyrical ideas present than in the middle sonatas, but still has its Beethovenian moments and some drama. An interesting feature of the first movement is the frequent use of octaves in the right hand, and there is a definite 19th century, salon- or music box-appropriate flavor at times. That flavor is also found in the Character Etude, Op. 755/1, and in the almost John Field-like delicacy of the Chanson sans Paroles, Op. 795/1, both of which date from around the same time as the Sonata No. 11. The Sonatas Nos. 1 and No. 2 have five movements each. The first four seem to follow a traditional sonata structure, with the fifth being a fugue tacked on as an afterword. No. 1 is definitely by Czerny, the student of Beethoven, while No. 2 is written more concisely and, in terms of expression, more conservatively. The Sonatina that follows is expectedly of smaller proportions and less theatrical than the sonatas. The Sonata No. 7, one of the grande fantasies like No. 8 and No. 9 (on Vol. 1), is also a more modest work, not as grande as its siblings. With less dense textures and fewer passages of brilliant pianism, the sonatas in this volume give the listener a chance to appreciate Czerny as a more rounded composer and enjoy the music without getting too caught up in rousing heroism or impressive virtuosic feats. So far, Jones has again made the case for another underrated composer, presenting these sonatas with appropriate flair and finesse.