Prokofiev Sonata No. 2 Scherzo

[88keysyamaha]

I am working on the Sonata No. 2 by Prokofiev and have encountered a question in the Scherzo movement.  On measures 12 and 14 in the treble clef there is a line going from d to d#(reading bass staff notes in treble clef in mm12).  In measure 14 the same line indicated from b to b#.  What does this mean?

[haydnseeker]

It's a way of indicating that the natural and sharp are both played together.  Thus in b12, the sixth RH quaver is a 3-note chord D natural - D sharp - C.  The other instances (bars 10, 14, 25 and the corresponding places in the reprise) are similar.

I don't know what edition you have, but in mine (Boosey and Hawkes 'authentic' edition) these chords are notated with an oblique stem running from the beam to one of the noteheads (though the oblique is missing in b12 and has been very clumsily added in b10).

There are other solutions to this notational problem.  Consult Music Notation by Gardner Read for a full explanation.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Music-Notation-Manual-Practice-Crescendo/dp/0800854535/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323731823&sr=1-1

Messiaen often has chords of this kind but doesn't use the extra stem, e.g. in Vingt Regards no. 15, at the second quaver a chord E natural - A natural - A sharp is notated on a single stem: there are two A noteheads, one either side of the stem, and the one to the left of the stem is preceded by both a sharp and a natural.

[88keysyamaha]

Thank you so much.  That answered my question and that is how I have been practicing it.  My edition is International Music Company.