Dussek Farewell Sonata: Rondo

This is the last movement of Jan Ladislav Dussek's fine Sonata op.44, "The Farewell"(1800), dedicated to his friend and sometime publisher Muzio Clementi. The farewell in question is Dussek's own, as he fled from his creditors in London, leaving his wife and daughter behind, never to see them again. The Farewell Sonata is an example of Dussek's "greater" style, in which he completely lives up to his artistic potential. As in the last movement of the Elégie, Dussek here indulges his penchant for obsessive syncopation, keeping the music moving breathlessly forward.

It seems that all Dussek's greatest sonatas have titles, as The Farewell, Le Retour à Paris (Plus Ultra), Elégie Harmonique, and L'Invocation (though we could say that the nameless op. 35#3 is also a great sonata). See the video introduction (on a separate video) for comments on some performance issues of this movement.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Dussek
• fortepiano
• Clementi
• London
• Les Adieux
• piano
• harpsichord
• Broadwood
• sonata

[dussekfan]

when did Dussek write this piece???

[camaysar222]

It was published in 1800.He most likely wrote it either that year or 1799.

[dussekfan]

wow, it sounds like what it sounds like in my mp3 player, the EXACT same thing! um...:D i wish i could play this

[camaysar222]

Haha! Maybe it's the EXACT same piece? F. Marvin has a nice recording, closest to my conception but, inevitably, we play it differently.

[UncleNathan]

What a treat to go to YouTube and find the music of Dussek, and so beautifully played. Thank you! By the way, that galabeyah looks very comfy. I bought one when I was in Egypt, but my sister-in-law threw it in the wash and shrank it :(

[camaysar222]

No way to treat that nice Egyptian cotton. Maybe you should throw your sister-in-law in the wash and shrink HER! Only kidding... I'm sure she meant well. Actually it's the hot drying that really does it. We have many Near Eastern clothes stores here in Brooklyn, so we don't have to travel far for those comfy clothes, "al hamdulillah"! Glad to meet a fellow Dussek-o-phile.

[camaysar222]

Thanks lego! I'm wearing what I sometimes wear around the house - an Arab robe. I got used to them during my travels in the East. I suppose I always had a tendency to "go native".

[legolad21]

Beautiful interpretation, as always. Heartfelt, with delicious nuances. Your technique is a pleasure to watch, as well. But...

just what is that you're wearing?

[Tomeperuser]

Thank you very much for sending this to me. It was just wonderful, and excellently performed. Tome

[truecrypt]

Absolutely beautiful and graceful performance!

Great balance, singing tone, nobility and taste.

Wonderful!