Gretchaninoff's cello sonata

[pedrito]

Hello everyone,
as a new member, I am happy to devote my first entry to the superb cello sonata of Alexander Gretchaninoff. I wonder how many of you know this beautiful work. Studying this piece and Brhams' first sonata for a concert in november, it struck me how many parallels there are between these two pieces: both in e minor, both have a rather slow first movement (although the Gretchaninoff steps up a gear after a long slow introduction), both have a menuet as its second movement, with the "'trio" section serving as a kind of (otherwise absent) slow movement, both use extensive counterpoint in its finale. Gretchaninoff must have modeled his sonata on Brahms's example. Both pieces sound totally different, but the resemblance is too obvious IMHO to be a mere coincidence... any suggestions from the other members?
I have one recording of the work, on Hyperion, but I have never seen it appear on concert programs...
greetings

[Alan Howe]

Welcome, pedrito! A fascinating first post - thank you.