The Impromptu for violin and piano launches a new phase in the oeuvre of Bohuslav Martinů. It is made up of three brief character pieces, which occasionally make use of daring bitonal harmonies and which, as a group, exist on the very bounds of tonality. The primary features of these little miniatures are frequent changes of time signature, rhythmic drive, repleteness of sound, and subtlety in the use of all expressive elements. Alongside a more or less diatonic violin part Martinů has juxtaposed highly dissonant piano writing. This is the first piece in which he turns to the musical beginner, for whom he is attempting to make modern music more accessible.
Aleš Březina, Martinů: Works for Violin and Piano, © 1999 Supraphon Music a.s