Prokofiev and the ‘heavenly sound’ of Georges Barrère

Abstract

The four-part Prokofiev sonata raises the genre of flute sonatas to a new level. ‘The turn from the wilds of chromatism to diatonicism’, characterized by the composer as a ‘new simplicity’ is the basis of his individual style. Along with sonatas by Hindemith and Poulenc, Prokofiev’s work has been firmly entrenched in the repertoire of modern performers, and its popularity is growing. ‘It is difficult to name any other work that could contribute in such a degree to all-round development of performance skills and musicality of the flute player as this sonata’.