EPIC Late Romantic Sonatas +

[dizzyfingers]

Having just listened to the Godowsky sonata and then doing a search on it, I came across this post:
    https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=61595
where these pieces are listed:
Godowsky - Sonata in e minor (1910)
Dukas - Sonata in e-flat minor (1900)
Reger - Variations and a fugue on a theme by Telemann (1914)

I'm kind of blown away by the Godowsky sonata - 5 movements, 45' duration - maybe not easy to learn and keep active in the repertoire, not easy to program, but definitely a work of musical art.  Now with historical hindsight, the epoch of the Epic Sonata was not long live, but there are probably some hidden gems from that period.  I've come across these pieces, though haven't listened to them:

d'Indy - sonata (1907)
Rachmaninov - sonatas (1907 and 1913)

I'm wondering if anyone is familiar with the above pieces and can comment on them, and other Epic late romantic sonata-scope pieces you might be familiar with, focusing more on the lesser known one-off's, rather than prolific sonata composers like Prokofiev, Scriabin, Medtner. 

[lelle]

I'm familiar with the Dukas sonata from having heard it live once, and the Rachmaninoff sonatas.

I think the D minor sonata by Rach is hugely underrated, but it requires a high caliber musician to make something sensible with. It can easily become just an eternity of thick, loud Rachmaninoff writing that never lets up.

The Dukas sonata I don't remember much of, except that it was cool and that I added it to my "should study at some point" list but it just never happened.

[thalbergmad]

The first time i listened to the Hurlstone Sonata i was blown away. It is almost Brahms but somehow better.
I think that there is only 1 recording.
Thal

[ronde_des_sylphes]

Oh wait, that's mine.

So I guess I'm being a touch frivolous. Definitely late Romantic though!

[thalbergmad]

Wow. Didnt know you had composed a sonata.
Will check that out later.
Thal

[dizzyfingers]

Oh wait, that's mine.
So I guess I'm being a touch frivolous. Definitely late Romantic though!

I listened to a few minutes - it's very nice.  Well crafted, not boring.  The imagery was a perfect match.  I'll listen to more later.

[dizzyfingers]

The first time i listened to the Hurlstone Sonata i was blown away. It is almost Brahms but somehow better.
I think that there is only 1 recording.
Thal

Thanks for mentioning William Hurlstone (1876 - 1906) - brand new name to me. Short life.
I found a recording on YT, unfortunately the pianist is not top notch, but I'll try to get through the entire sonata.
From wikipedia:  ".. was an English composer. Showing brilliant musical talent from an early age, he died young, before his full potential could be realized. Nevertheless, he left behind an exquisite, albeit small, body of work. His teacher Sir Charles Villiers Stanford considered him the most talented of his pupils, above Ralph Vaughan Williams and Gustav Holst."

[ronde_des_sylphes]

I listened to a few minutes - it's very nice.  Well crafted, not boring.  The imagery was a perfect match.  I'll listen to more later.

Thanks, nice to hear!