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In Reply to: RE: An embarrassment of riches indeed! posted by Chris from Lafayette on April 22, 2012 at 18:48:40
It has always been well-known that Franck considered the sonata playable by the flute and cello as well as the violin, though I didn't know about the piano four hands option. Of course, there is a good chance this was his publisher's idea in order to make the sheet music more popular. IMO it is far more successful on the violin than on the flute or even the cello, though it is routinely performed by flutists.
In contrast, the Prokofiev Op. 94 sonata was definitely written for the flute only, and only later adapted by Prokofiev for the violin at the request of David Oistrakh.
The Richard Strauss Op. 18 violin sonata is IMO far more successful played by the flute than the Franck sonata. Have you played that one, Chris? Good stuff.
Follow Ups:
Yes - my understanding about the Prokofiev Op. 94 Sonata was that it was originally written for flute, transcribed/adapted for the violin at Oistrakh's request (as you say). But I believe I'd heard that somewhere along the line, the original flute manuscript was lost and that the flute version played today is a transcription back from the violin version. Do you know anything about this? BTW, there's a very interesting edition which has both the flute part and the violin part (with their at times differing figures) above the piano part. I have it, and it's very interesting, but I don't use it for performance, because there are extra page turns. ;-)
I don't know that Strauss Violin Sonata very well - I think I've heard it only once or twice. I did like it very much - the piano part sounds like it could be difficult. I've never heard a flute version of it however. I do love the Strauss Cello Sonata, which I've played a few times.
BTW, along with Strauss's remark, "never look at the brass - it only encourages them!", have you heard his other rule for conductors? "Never let the horns and the woodwinds out of your sight. If you can hear them at all, they're still too strong!" ;-)
As for the various editions of the Prokofiev sonata, I would have to check with some of the experts on this issue, especially Patricia Harper. My understanding is that after Prokofiev revised it for violin, some flutists adapted some of those revisions for themselves.Jean-Pierre Rampal's edition by International in particular has many of the violin changes, or something close to them. In general, Rampal was known for putting in additional ornamentation or making other significant changes to the composer's manuscript in his editions of standard flute repertoire. Many flutists today turn up their noses at his editions for that reason, though he had many good ideas.
The German Sikorski edition is supposed to be very close to the true flute original, in fact originally the Sikorski edition was no more than a facsimile of the original Russian flute edition. I too have the MCA edition with both the flute and violin parts, but it is apparently no longer available. For legal reasons, you now have to buy the Sikorski edition if you want the true original flute version.
There are recordings using both the original flute edition and an adaptation from the violin sonata.
Edits: 04/23/12
I used to play the Prokofiev with flutists exclusively, and it's only in recent years that I've been playing more with string players. I still play from my "flute" piano part, but last Saturday, I had an unexpected rehearsal with a violinist whose teacher provided me with the nominally Oistrakh-edited "violin" piano part. As far as what was shown as the "solo" line in the piano part - there was no difference (i.e., it was the same as the nominally Rampal-edited flute edition), even though in the actual violin part (from which the violinist was playing), there WERE differences! (IOW, the solo violin part did not correspond to what was shown in the solo lines of the "violin" piano part!) Sounds as if this piece is in an even murkier state than I originally thought - of course, in this case it could just be International Edition saving a bit of cash on their printing costs for the piano part! ;-)
Interesting. As you probably know, International editions have a reputation for containing many errors, but they aren't alone. Publishers often make mistakes in copying the separate solo instrument part from the part included with the piano score. In my copy of the Strauss violin sonata adapted for flute and piano and published by Universal, there is an entire measure missing in the flute part.
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