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Overview: 
Often overshadowed by its neighboring sonatas, Beethoven's Sonata No. 22 is a concise two-movement work that defies traditional structures.

Historical Context: 
Composed in 1804, this sonata is contemporary with the initial sketches of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. Its brevity and unique form make it a distinctive entry in Beethoven's oeuvre.

Did You Know? 
The first movement juxtaposes a graceful minuet with a contrasting, forceful theme, leading some to describe it as a dialogue between "Beauty and the Beast." 


Overview: 
Part of Bach's collection of six English Suites, this piece masterfully blends French, Italian, and German musical elements.

Historical Context: 
Despite their name, the English Suites don't display English characteristics. Bach's first biographer suggested they were named because Bach composed them for an Englishman of rank.

Did You Know? 
Each English Suite begins with an expansive prelude, a feature believed to cater to English tastes of the time. 


J.S. Bach - English Suite No. 5 BWV 810 in E Minor

Overview: 
A profound work that seamlessly integrates three movements, showcasing Franck's innovative use of cyclic form.

Historical Context: 
Composed in 1884, this piece reflects Franck's admiration for Bach, blending Baroque structures with Romantic expressivity.

Did You Know? 
Franck initially planned to write just a Prelude and Fugue but later added the Chorale, which became the emotional core of the work.

C. Franck - Prelude, Chorale and Fugue

Overview: 
Inspired by Dante's "Divine Comedy," this sonata portrays a journey through Hell and towards redemption.

Historical Context: 
Originally part of Liszt's "Années de Pèlerinage," this piece was inspired by Victor Hugo's poem "Après une lecture de Dante."

Did You Know? 
The sonata's opening theme prominently features the tritone interval, historically dubbed the "Devil's interval," enhancing its depiction of the inferno. 


F. Liszt - Dante Sonata, Fantasia Quasi Sonata

Overview:

"Vallée d'Obermann" is the sixth piece in Liszt's "Années de pèlerinage: Première année (Switzerland)" and is inspired by Étienne Pivert de Senancour's novel Obermann. The composition delves into themes of existential longing and introspection, mirroring the protagonist's profound reflections amidst the Swiss Alps.

Historical Context:

Composed during Liszt's travels in Switzerland in the 1830s, "Vallée d'Obermann" reflects his personal experiences and philosophical musings. The piece was later revised and included in the first book of "Années de pèlerinage," published in 1855. Liszt's fascination with literature and nature is evident, as he sought to musically encapsulate the profound emotions evoked by Senancour's novel and the majestic Swiss landscapes.

Did You Know?

Liszt inscribed a quote from Lord Byron's Childe Harold's Pilgrimage in the score of "Vallée d'Obermann":

"Could I embody and unbosom now
That which is most within me,—could I wreak
My thoughts upon expression, and thus throw
Soul—heart—mind—passions—feelings–strong or weak—
All that I would have sought, and all I seek,
Bear, know, feel—and yet breathe—into one word,
And that one word were Lightning, I would speak;
But as it is, I live and die unheard,
With a most voiceless thought, sheathing it as a sword."

F. Liszt - Years of Pilgrimage, First Year - Valée d'Obermann

Overview: 
A single-movement work that bridges Scriabin's early Romantic style with his later, more mystical compositions.

Historical Context: 
Composed in 1900, this Fantasy reflects Scriabin's transition from Chopin-inspired works to his unique harmonic language.

Did You Know? 
Despite its brilliance, Scriabin seemed to have forgotten about this piece later in life, as recounted by his acquaintance Leonid Sabaneyev.