Mihkel Kerem: Violin Sonatas
The Estonian violinist Mihkel Kerem (born in Tallinn in 1981) is familiar as a performer in Britain as well as at home; he is also a prolific composer, with over one hundred works to his credit, three symphonies among them. Hardly surprisingly, he has written for his own instrument, including a concerto and these four sonatas — the First an astonishing achievement for a thirteen-year-old and the Second hardly less surprising from a fifteen-year-old composer. Kerem's style is powerful and direct, reminiscent of Prokofiev in its steely strength and motoric energy.
Mikk Murdvee, violin
Sten Lassmann, piano
Listen To This Recording:
-
Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 1 (1993t4)
- I. Nocturne
- II. Scherzo
- III. Postlude
- I. Commodo
- II. Presto
- III. Grave
- I. Introduction and March
- II. Fantasy
- III. Siciliana
- IV. Finale
- I. Scherzo
- II. Sonata
- III. Polyphony
Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 2 (1996)
Sonata for Solo Violin (2002)
Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 3 (2006)
MusicWeb International :
‘Murdvee and Lassmann are excellent throughout, sophisticatedly communicative of phrase and tone and compelling champions for Kerem’s music. […]
Sound quality is first-rate. The English-only notes are by Kerem himself, well written, informative and cordial. These are premiere recordings, and mark Kerem’s debut as a composer on CD. The first of many, surely.’
—Byzantion, MusicWeb International