The first movement's tempo marking is Agiatato and the opening of Bloch's First Violin Sonata is a perfect musical depiction of that condition. In fact the music is in turn turbulent and aggressive, passionate and sorrowful, but the prevailing mood is one of grave disquiet.

To those who know his Judeo-centric music, the above named qualities are not strangers, but in this piece he achieves the same emotional aims without resorting to his familiar Jewish musical dialect.

Bloch had read a book on Tibet prior to writing the second movement marked Molto quieto. This might well explain the bell like figures in the piano part. This movement may be mostly contemplative, but there is unrest in the music also.

The last movement begins with the tolling of bells in the piano part. The violin once more is assertive although less aggressive than it was in the first movement. Central to this movement is a somewhat macabre processional which leads into short reminiscences of many of the themes that have gone before.

The piece ends with a tender epilogue which dies away peacefully.

This work was written in 1920 at a time when Bloch was living in the United States. The music he created in this era tended to be ecumenical in outlook.

A rather poetic interpretation of this work was offered by Alex Cohen, the once director of the Ernest Bloch Society, who said: "...this tremendous Sonata gives an overwhelming impression of the play of elemental and ruthless forces."

It is a pity that this work has not established itself in the repertoires of more violinists since it is a challenging but extremely rewarding work that deserves many more performances.

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