Violin Sonata No. 1 in A Minor

Schumann’s habit was often to compose similar works in concentrated bursts of creativity. In the autumn of 1851 he produced two violin sonatas and the third of his trios for piano, violin, and cello. The First Violin Sonata itself took him only five days to complete that September, and was premiered the following year with his wife Clara at the piano. The Sonata opens passionately, with the violin presenting a refulgent melody on the instrument’s lowest string over agitated piano figures. The central “Allegretto” plays the role of both scherzo and slow movement, its intermezzo-like character combining a sense of playfulness with a degree of repose. Then comes a lively finale, whose insistent violin line over rumbling piano tremolandos builds ingeniously towards the simultaneous presentation of the main themes of the two outer movements.