Composed 1924; 10 minutes

Dedicated to fellow Belgian violinist Mathieu Crickboom, the G major Sonata is among the most progressive and atmospheric of the six Op. 27 Sonatas. It unfolds in two movements, both prefaced by evocative French titles. The first, L’Aurore, suggests dawn. A hushed, searching opening gradually gathers warmth and radiance, as if light were spreading across the strings. The music brightens in a sustained crescendo of controlled bowing, left hand pizzicatos, delicate double stops, across-the-strings bowing, and musical intensity. Danse rustique, bursts in with earthy vigor. Angular rhythms, crisp accents, and percussive bow strokes evoke rustic dance and maybe outdoor fiddling too. Episodes of lyric contrast interrupt the drive, but the dominant mood is exuberant.