Schnittke A. Sonata № 3 (Coll. Works. S. 7, Vol. 1, P. 3)

The publication of Alfred Schnittke’s Collected Works is a joint project of the Compozitor Publishing House • Saint-Petersburg, the Schnittke family archive and the Alfred Schnittke Archive at Goldsmiths College, University of London. This critical edition is intended for performers, scholars and music lovers interested in Schnittke and his music. Its main purpose is to provide them with access to his scores, which are not readily available in Russia or elsewhere. All the scores have been checked against Schnittke’s manuscripts and existing publications of his music and have been edited by leading performers who collaborated with the composer. 

The Third Sonata is dedicated to Justus Frantz. It was written in 1992. Schnittke wrote about the Sonata: “I first heard Justus Frantz at his Schleswig-Holstein Festival. He played in an unforgettable concert with Mstislav Rostropovich and Evgeny Kissin. I discovered then that we happened to be neighbours in Hamburg. Thus, the idea of a new piano sonata was born… However, I suffered a stroke in 1991 and was unable to compose for some time. As soon as I felt fit, I completed the Sonata and dedicated it to him. However, it was difficult for him to schedule the first performance for a long time, as he had some questions and doubts…” 

Schnittke’s Third Piano Sonata was given its first performance by Boris Berman in the hall of the Tel-Aviv Conservatory on the 14^th of March 1996. He also recorded it (1998, Chandos CHAN 9704).  

The Sonata № 3 has been edited for this volume by Boris Berman.