A lost Ysaye sonata turns up in Brussels
mainThe French violinist Philippe Graffin has given the first performance, from manuscript, of a seventh sonata by Eugène Ysaye, one of the instrument’s legendary masters.
Discovered in Brussels, where Graffin gave his performances this week, the sonata appears to have been written between the 5th and 6th of the well-known set.
Very keen to hear it.
Each of the six solo sonatas was dedicated to a concert violinist colleague and each purported to capture some essence of that violinist’s style or background. If this newly found sonata does not contain a similar dedication it’s going to make for some intriguing guessing games.
Graffin is a perfect choice to introduce such a piece.
The ‘Strad’ magazine has a facimile of the MS.
I’d love to play it
Question: Did Ysaye compose exclusively for solo violin? Does there exist any chamber music by him?