Kraus, Joseph Martin (1756-1792)

Joseph Martin Kraus was one of the most gifted and unusual composers of the 18th century, whose talent for thematic development, colourful orchestration and theatrical flair caused Haydn to proclaim him one of only two 'geniuses' he knew (Mozart being the other one). Although Kraus's focus as a composer was mainly upon works written for the stage, he had occasion and opportunity to write a variety of works for chamber setting, including this sonata for violin and fortepiano. It is not known for whom this work was written, but the sole surviving source, a set of parts in Uppsala University Library in the hand of Fredrik Silverstolpe, Kraus's first biographer and assiduous collector of his music, dates it to Kraus's grand tour; he notes that it was written in Paris in 1785. The sonata received its final form for keyboard alone as part of the Due Sonata per il Forte Piano published by Olof Åhlstrm some three years later in 1788. This sonata differs from the solo pianoforte version (also published by Artaria Editions as AE398) in that it is shorter (particularly in the slow movement) and less elaborate for both instruments. Nonetheless, it is an impressive sonata and among the most interesting works of its kind composed in the 1780s.

Allan Badley