Senfter: Sonata in D Major Op. 37 for Clarinet, Viola, Horn in F, and Piano

Score and Parts

The Sonata for clarinet, viola, horn and piano, op. 37 was composed in 1920 (at the latest). The violist Michael Balling, a friend of Johanna Senfter, wrote to the composer about the work, which he had looked through: “I have just studied your Trio [!] Sonata as a real Sunday treat and congratulate you warmly on the beautiful, warm tone you have achieved. [...] The tone colour is excellent to my taste, and can perhaps be exploited even more by adding the low notes of the clarinet in some places [...] and also the high notes of the horn, and the high register on the A-string of the viola can also come into its own in some places. Most importantly, however, it seems to me that you should make the piano part a little less thick [...]” and he concludes his remarks humorously with the request: “So be gracious and kind to the poor hammered dulcimer players and make it a little easier for them.”