The Six sonatas for various instruments by Claude Debussy was a projected cycle of sonatas, that were interrupted by his death in 1918, after only having composed half of the projected sonatas. He left behind his sonatas for cello (1915), flute, viola and harp (1915), and violin (1916-1917).
Contents
History
From 1914, the composer, encouraged by the music publisher Jacques Durand, intended to write a set of six sonatas for various instruments, in homage to the French composers of the 18th century. The First World War, along with the composers Couperin and Rameau, inspired Debussy in writing the sonatas.
In a letter to the conductor Bernard Molinari, Debussy explained that the set should include "different combinations, with the last sonata combining the previously used instruments". His death, 25 March 1918, ultimately, prevented him from carrying out his plan, and only three sonatas on six set were published by Durand, with a dedication to his second wife, Emma Bardac.
The unfinished sonatas
As Debussy wrote in the manuscript of his violin sonata, he wrote that the 4th sonata should include, oboe, horn, and harpsichord, and the fifth for trumpet, clarinet, bassoon and piano.
For the final and sixth sonata, Debussy envisioned: "a concerto where the sonorites of the "various instruments" combine, with the gracious assistance of the double bass", making the instrumentation:
Legacy
The idea of combining the instruments oboe, horn, and harpsichord, inspired Thomas Adès to write his "Sonata da Caccia", and the combination of the instruments trumpet, clarinet, bassoon and piano, inspired Marc-André Dalbavie to write his Axiom.