1. Home
  2. Entertainment
  3. Classical Music

Nikolai Karlovich Medtner - Sonata Tragica, Op. 39, No. 5

Classical Music Work of the Week

By , About.com Guide

During one of my frequent searches for composers whose music I've never head, I stumbled upon Nikolai Karlovich Medtner (1880-1951), a Russian born composer and pianist considered my many to be a young contemporary of Rachmaninov. Medtner mostly composed works for the piano, and of those works, his piano sonatas are most notable. The piece I happened to find was his Sonata Tragica, Op. 39, No. 5. Watch a video of Sonata Tragica (the sound cuts out at the 4:30 mark, but returns a minute and a half later). The work was composed as the fifth part of Medtner's Second Cycle of Forgotten Melodies and was intended to be played in pair with Canzona matinata (number four in the cycle).

Explore Classical Music

About.com Special Features

The Best Dramas of the Decade

From 'CSI' to 'House', check out the most influential dramas of the last 10 years. More >

2010 Golden Globe Nominees

Are your favorites on the nominee list? More >

  1. Home
  2. Entertainment
  3. Classical Music
  4. Classical Music 101
  5. Classical Work of the Week
  6. Classical Music Work of the Week: Nikolai Karlovich Medtner - Sonata Tragica, Op. 39, No. 5>

©2010 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.