K. Slavický - Piano Sonata “Contemplation of Life“ (Kasík)

0:00 - 1. Grave. Molto allegro impetuoso 9:12 - 2. Largo misterioso 18:16 - 3. Molto vivo, deciso Klement Slavický wrote his only piano sonata symbolically around the time of his 50th birthday (1960) and it was premiered in the same year by Antonín Jemelík in Prague’s Rudolfinum. Slavický thought highly of the sonata form and had great respect for it - both the piano and violin sonatas bear exceptionally program titles (Contemplation of life and Friendship respectively). A. Šeda in his critique talks about a “new musical expression” which strongly contrasts with the realm of his Moravian dance fantasies and Rhapsodic variations. Unlike the Three pieces for piano, which are brilliant and musically effective compositions, the sonata goes far beyond with its program message and moral transcendence. The piece is a portrayal of Slavický’s personality in a compressed form. (extract from Kasík’s PhD thesis) Composer - Klement Slavický (1910–1