Ives, Concord sonata : piano sonata no. 2 ("Concord, Mass., 1840-1860")

Charles Ives's massive Concord Sonata, his second sonata for piano, named after the town of Concord in Massachusetts, is central to his output and clearly reflects his aesthetic perspective. Geoffrey Block's wide-ranging 1996 account of the work thus provides an ideal introduction to this fascinating composer. As well as a discussion of the Sonata's reception history from 1920 to the time of publication, and a chapter on its compositional genesis, this handbook includes a detailed narrative of the motivic content as well as a historical and analytical survey of the work's borrowings, both certifiable and newly proposed. The programmatic element of the Sonata is explored in the context of Ives's personal vision of four literary subjects associated with the town of Concord between 1840 and 1860: Emerson, Thoreau, Hawthorne, and the Alcotts. Charles Ives's Massive Concord Sonata, His Second Sonata For Piano, Named After The Town Of Concord In Massachusetts, Is Central To His Output And Clearly Reflects His Aesthetic Perspective. Geoffrey Block's Wide-ranging Account Of The Work Thus Provides An Ideal Introduction To This Fascinating Composer. As Well As A Discussion Of The Sonata's Reception History From 1920 To The Present, And A Chapter On Its Compositional Genesis, This Handbook Includes A Detailed Narrative Of The Motivic Content And A Historical And Analytical Survey Of The Work's Borrowings, Both Certifiable And Newly Proposed. The Programmatic Element Of The Sonata Is Explored In The Context Of Ives's Personal Vision Of Four Literary Subjects Associated With The Town Of Concord Between 1840 And 1860: Emerson, Hawthorne, The Alcotts And Thoreau.--book Jacket. 1. Introduction -- 2. Reception. Critical Responses 1920-1938. 1939 And After -- 3. Genesis. Ives's Chronology. Ives's Chronology Cross-examined. A Revised Genesis. The Two Concords -- 4. Form And Design. Motivic Fabric. Tonal Characteristics. Form -- 5. Borrowing. Borrowings: Ives, Cowell, And Kirkpatrick. Later Discoveries Of Ives Borrowings. Other Hypothetical Borrowings. Musical Borrowings In The Concord Sonata -- 6. The Program. Ives And Programmaticism. Emerson Hawthorne The Alcotts Thoreau -- Appendix I. Concord Sonata Themes -- Appendix Ii. Formal And Thematic Outline. Geoffrey Block. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 107-109) And Index. Charles Ives' massive Concord Sonata, his second sonata for piano, named after the town of Concord in Massachusetts, is central to his output and clearly reflects his aesthetic perspective. Geoffrey Block's wide-ranging account of the work thus provides an ideal introduction to this fascinating composer. This handbook discusses the Sonata's reception history and its compositional genesis, as well as providing a detailed account of the work's thematic content, its use of borrowed material, and the degree to which the program is influenced by the Concord Transcendentalists.