The Sonata for Solo Violin (or Sonata for Unaccompanied Violins in Unison) in D major, Opus 115, is a three-movement work for unaccompanied violin composed by Sergei Prokofiev in 1947. It was commissioned by the Soviet Union's Committee of Arts Affairs as a pedagogical work for talented violin students.[1] It is therefore a non-virtuosic piece, and was originally designed to be played not by one soloist but by multiple young performers in unison.[2] It was not performed until 10 July 1959 - six years after Prokofiev's death - by Ruggiero Ricci at the Moscow Conservatory.[1]
| Sonata for Solo Violin | |
|---|---|
| by Sergei Prokofiev | |
 Prokofiev c. 1918 | |
| Key | D major |
| Opus | 115 |
| Genre | Sonata |
| Style | Neoclassical |
| Composed | 1947 |
| Published | 1952 |
| Movements | Three |
| Scoring | Unaccompanied violin or violins (in unison) |
Structure and Analysis
editThe three movements of the sonata are as follows:
- Moderato
- Andante dolce. Tema con variazioni
- Con brio. Allegro precipitato
The work is composed in Classical style and its melodies are largely diatonic. The first movement is in sonata form, the second movement is a theme with five variations, and the third movement has characteristics of a mazurka.[2][1]