Grave

Playing directions: Lento assai e espressivo (very slowly, and expressively)

*** Note: This chart is not normal, as it intends the graphical representation of the colourful piece as the main focus. USE AUTO TO LEARN THE CHART BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO PLAY. ***

Analysis:

This chart quotes the first movement of the first of the 6 Ysaye Sonatas for Solo Violin, dedicated to Joseph Szigeti. While hardly programmatic in nature, I charted this piece after listening to it intently, and the only image that could be conjured was that of the image used, ghostly winds howling.

To call this extract of music "normal" or "conservative" is surely a jest. This movement starts with gusto, demanding the violin play highly difficult chords while still sounding flowing, as per usual in Ysaye's music. After the section marked "tranquilo" (tranquilly), the piece seems to lose its poise as the tone drifts into ethereality, yet quickly regains it soon after. The main theme of the movement is reprised after a series of polyphonic runs (as highlighted in the chart). The movement closes with tremolos sul ponticello (on/near the bridge) with occasional left-hand pizzicati. offering an unprecedented eerie mood.

The chart is as "abnormal" as the piece. I have experimented with different ways to chart the violin double stop chords and the method of charting by phrase (and not by bar), hence the highly varied speeds and strange structures. As an addendum, the ending tremolos comprise a little under half of the rest of the chart due to the abundance of drag notes.