Review Summary: over-ambition pulled off
Medtner's seventh of his fourteen sonatas,
Sonata in E Minor, colloquially known as
Night Wind was dedicated upon completion to his good friend Rachmaninoff, which perhaps explains this particular sonata's overwhelming ambition compared to Medtner's others, which never aim so high and aren't nearly as self-consuming. At approximately thirty minutes,
Night Wind is already lengthy, but seems even longer, as few apparent breaks exist, and no
distinct transitions occur. Almost always progressing with speed,
Night Wind lacks softness and easiness throughout - qualities that sonatas with prolonged slow sections emanate by interrupting speed-induced hysteria, especially when purposefully sandwiched between faster movements, acting as sweet, easy-to-digest jam to simultaneously contrast and complement peripheral complexity, consisting of hardier pieces of bread.
Night Wind, however, doesn't want jam, and seems never-ending for this reason. Rather than break hysteria,
Night Wind rejoices in excessive mania. Listening to
Night Wind is similar, I think, to being carried off solid ground unawares, then thrown into unforeseen chaos, which - in this scenario - corresponds to blustery, violent weather. Neither calm nor collected, this night wind is turbulent, turning, tumbling, and tossing any victims whichever way without consent or concern. So many times
Night Wind could end, and arguably
should end, but Medtner thought not, structuring several lyrical themes right after each other, using his thirty minutes to thoroughly address and expand on them until they all return together in
Night Wind's closing minutes, only to disappear with modesty after their turbulent show.
In
Night Wind's final notes it is clear that this storm clears as quickly as it comes, and anybody stuck within suddenly falls back down, left to wonder what just happened, which is half this sonata's beauty. Trying to understand what Medtner was saying with
Night Wind is challenging and taxing, but every listen yields new discoveries. That being said, although this sonata is difficult and almost
anxious in that you can't just kick back and let it wash over you, it is rewarding.
Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3AGC6YPwX4
