Piano Sonata No. 6 (Prokofiev)

The first movement introduces the main motto, where the melody is played in minor thirds and parallel major thirds. This makes the movement tonally unstable, since both A major and A minor are established. Also, the motto is accompanied by a rising and falling augmented 4th between notes A and D#, creating sharp dissonances. Thus, it already introduces the uncertainty of the work. The greater part of it is dominated by grinding dissonances and frequent modulation, further increasing the despair of the work. Throughout most of the piece, there is a lack of key signature.[2]

The second movement has been described as having a march-like sound with staccato chords. There is also a very bouncy, humorous, and jaunty character to the outer sections of the piece. The middle section is more melodic and a little more pensive and mysterious.[2]

The third movement is similar to a waltz, slower and romantic in the outer sections, but with an stormy, bell-like middle section.[2]

The closing movement is a headlong rondo. The middle section recalls the opening motto from the first movement, albeit with the first note missing.[2] In the extremely virtuosic coda, the motto, transformed and abbreviated, is hammered out violently amid swirls of harried notes, and then played in full in rapid, stammering descending chords, as if to proclaim a most Pyrrhic victory.