The second of Arnold's violin sonatas was given its premiere on October 21, 1953 by Suzanne Rozsa on violin and Paul Hamburger on piano, at the Recital Room at London's Royal Festival Hall. Rather shorter than the Violin Sonata No. 1, the Sonata No. 2 is in four movements, totaling just seven or eight minutes, played without a break. Compared with that earlier work, the violin takes more of the lead in the Sonata No. 2, with the pianist providing a sometimes dissonant accompaniment to the violin's more song-like melodies.

The violin opens the work with a tranquil theme, the opening of which recurs in each of the succeeding movements. The aggressive Vivace second movement features pizzicati (plucked notes) from the violin and a thunderous backing from the piano. The slower third movement also features pizzicati and a continuing feeling of tension. The peaceful, spacious final movement features a full return of the work's opening melody, with most of the accompanying dissonances resolved.

© All Music Guide

Portions of Content Provided by All Music Guide.
© 2008 All Media Guide, LLC. All Music Guide is a registered trademark of All Media Guide, LLC.