Abstract:
Sergey Prokofiev’s second violin sonata contrasts many of his works, because of its
different medium, compositional goals, and the life circumstances of the composer during
which it was written. This violin sonata was originally composed as Flute Sonata in D Op. 94.
Prokofiev collaborated with David Oistrakh for a violin arrangement. They worked together to
incorporate violin techniques such as double stops, pizzicato, and harmonics. At the time of
writing, Prokofiev was inspired to write a sonata with a “classical, clear, transparent sonority.”
Prokofiev achieved this, particularly in the first movement, through writing lyrical melodies and
choosing sonata-allegro form. This paper looks at the historical background of the sonata, the
collaboration between Prokofiev and David Oistrakh, the differences between the two versions,
and analysis of the first movement.
