This sonata managed to become so far the only standard piece by František Hertl in a double bassist's repertory. Hertl was an educated composer and he left far more excellent works for double bass: one of best concertos for double bass and orchestra composed in the 20th century, and plenty of shorter pieces for double bass and piano, like "Four Compositions" or "30 Miniatures". Please check my Hertl playlist on this RU-vid channel for more.
00:07 Allegro moderato
08:47 Andantino
14:08 Rondo (Alla polka, moderato)
LIve performance, recorded on 19th April 2023 in Kammermusiksaal of the Hochschule für Music in Freiburg in Breisgau (D).
Musicians who already know this sonata well might be wondering why was I playing some different notes in several situations: I have performed in this concert manuscript version of the sonata, like in Hertl's handwritten piano score, completed in 1946. First printed edition from 1957 differs in numerous smaller details in the double bass part, while piano part hasn't been changed much. While in the most of situations changes aren't essential, it is very strange that the tempo mark of the second theme in the first movement hasn't been printed as in manuscript, neither at the beginning nor in the recapitulation (poco più mosso, quasi alla breve), a detail which has a big impact on the interpretation.
30 авг 2023
