Loewe, Carl (1796 – 1869)
Zigeunersonate
SKU:FE015
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Description
Carl Loewe’s Zigeunersonate (1847) is a rare and evocative work in five movements, composed at the height of the Romantic era’s fascination with exoticism and storytelling. Though best known for his ballads and songs, Loewe here turns to the piano sonata as a narrative canvas. Each movement conjures an imaginary world—from shadowy forests and mystical rites to nocturnal processions and jubilant dances. While the content is firmly Romantic, the structure remains rooted in Classical clarity, lending the work both emotional scope and formal strength.
Marked by programmatic titles such as Waldscene and Abend-Cultus, the sonata blends dramatic imagery with pianistic invention. Shimmering textures, sudden silences, irregular rhythms, and folk-inspired motifs bring Loewe’s scenes vividly to life. Though the work reflects the 19th century’s stereotypical view of “gypsy” culture, it remains a compelling musical document—at once imaginative, virtuosic, and theatrically charged.
Quick Overview
- Composer: Carl Loewe (1796–1869)
- Edition: Urtext (FE015)
- Contents: 60 pages total (5 pages introduction and source commentary, 50 pages music)
- Difficulty: Level 8–9 / 10
- Editor: Martijn Vromans
- Paper: A4, 120 gsm cream (Clairefontaine)
- Binding: Black steel wire binding
- Pages: 50 + V pages.
About the Composer
About the Composer
Carl Loewe (1796–1869) was a pioneering German composer, singer, and conductor, best known for his ballads and narrative songs. His vocal music displays remarkable virtuosity, expressive power, and a keen sense for dramatic storytelling. These compositions reveal a distinct voice, exploring the instrument’s lyrical and coloristic potential with depth, invention, and a touch of melancholy. Though celebrated in his lifetime and often compared to Schubert, his piano works remain largely overlooked.
Contents
Contents
- Introduction
- Zigeunersonate, Opus 107b
- Critical Commentary
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