Piano Sonata No. 8 (Prokofiev)

Movements#

The sonata has three movements.

I. Andante dolce – Allegro moderato#

The movement begins with a lyrical theme. The key is B major, but the sense of tonality is weak due to Prokofiev’s frequent modulations to remote keys. Next is a theme in G minor that goes through a series of modulations which prepares the development section. The development section is tonally unstable and propelled by motoric rhythms. Another theme emerges, leading into a reprise of the first theme, followed by a truncated reprise of the development section, this time in B minor. The movement ends in B major.

II. Andante sognando#

In this brief movement, Prokofiev uses a theme from his then unperformed melodramatic adaptation of Eugene Onegin.

III. Vivace#

The movement begins with a driving theme in several arpeggios, introducing one of the main themes, in B major. Tonality is weak, as the very next theme is in A minor. After a brief return to B major, it then introduces another theme in the key of B major. Then another theme enters, this one in C major. After the initial section, the piece enters into a waltz-like portion that is in D major. The movement segues into a much quieter section, alternating in D major and C minor. Throughout this section, the left hand includes references to the waltz-like section. Then after this section, the A minor theme returns, building into the return of the opening theme. The final section combines nearly all of the elements that have come before. Tonality is still weak. The C major theme enters, transposed to B major. Then the A minor theme returns, also transposed to B major. There is a new theme, building up to a coda in B major.

External links#

• Prokofiev’s Sonata No. 8 on Classical Connect.
• Video – Prokofiev Piano Sonata No 8 – Complete (28:19)
• Prokofiev Piano Sonata No 8 in B major, Opus 84 (1944).
• Video – Prokofiev Piano Sonata No 8 mvt 1/score (06:28).
• Video – Prokofiev Piano Sonata No 8 mvt 2/score (03:51).
• Video – Prokofiev Piano Sonata No 8 mvt 3/score (09:56); (8:58); (10:35).