Токката для фортепиано d-moll/Toccata for piano, D minor
Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev (Сергей Сергеевич Прокофьев/Sergey Sergeyevich Prokofiev) (1891-1953) was a Russian/Soviet composer, pianist, and conductor. His works range from piano sonatas to operas, and he is regarded as one of the most important composers of the 20th century.
One of the most well-known toccatas for piano, it belongs to earlier works of Prokofiev, but it serves as a good introduction to his style, with emphasis on rhythm, simple texture, and dissonances. It is a difficult (but fun in my opinion) piece to play, but it is quite a dramatic piece, and has been one of the encore favorites of many pianists.
The premiere was by the composer, in St. Petersburg on 27 November 1916. However, it was published by P. Jurgerson in 1913.
(0:00) The repeated D is the introduction, but the intervals expand to lead to dissonances
(0:25) Motif 1 (3rds) - this is stated over a chromatic melody on the left hand.
(0:37) Motif 2 (descending chromatic)
(0:44) (Episode 1) 1, again with chromaticism on left hand
(0:51) 1, with elements of 2 on right hand (when motif 2-like figure is stated, the 8th note on the left hand reminds us of the motif 1)
(1:00) 2, mixed with the repeated note and 3rd/5th of the motif 1
(1:22) Climax. We can observe elements from the previous motifs - 2 on the top melody, 1 in the interval of 3rds, and the introduction in the accented, repeated notes
(1:43) Introduction
(1:57) (Episode 2) 1, developed canonically, with frequently changing tonality
(2:15) One of the voice is changed into motif 2
(2:22) Left hand is back to motif 1
(2:26) Motif 2
(3:00) Motif 1, but barely recognizable at this point
(3:05) Motif 2, climax
(3:26) Introduction
(3:51) Motif 1 ending in a fierce passage at the end.
Source: English/Russian Wikipedia, original research
Recording by Cyprien Katsaris
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