Ives, Charles - Concord Sonata - Pohjonen, Juho

Charles Ives' Concord Sonata is often described as one of the greatest American piano works. Published in 1920 at the composer's own expense, the work contains radical experiments in harmony and rhythm, and its premiere had to wait until 1939. In four movements, Ives depicts famous residents of the small town of Concord, Massachusetts. Concord was the center of the Transcendentalist movement in the mid-19th century. The movement's leading figures, such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, are referenced in the music in many ways, including references to Beethoven, religious and patriotic hymns, circus marches, and brief "guest appearances" by the viola and flute.