Sergey Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 4 in B-flat major (Op. 53) for the left hand was commissioned by the one-armed pianist Paul Wittgenstein and completed in 1931. As Wittgenstein had refused to play the work, saying that he could not understand it, it became the only one of Prokofiev's complete piano concertos that never saw a performance during the composer's lifetime.

Movements

The concerto has four movements, lasting around 25 minutes:

1. Vivace (4-5 mins)
2. Andante (9-13 mins)
3. Moderato (8-9 mins)
4. Vivace (1-2 mins)

Analysis

The first and last movement serve as a brief prelude and postlude respectively. The middle two movements comprise the main bulk of the concerto. The andante is more reflective and expands with a romantic greatness. The sarcastic Moderato is in "modified sonata-form". The concerto has an unusual ending, with the piano running up pianissimo to a very high B-flat₇.

Instrumentation

The work is scored for solo piano (left hand), 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 1 trumpet, 1 trombone, bass drum and strings.

Recordings

External links

• The Prokofiev Page [1]