Second Sonatina for winds

Richard Strauss's Second Sonatina for Wind Instruments was composed in 1945 as one of the final works by the 81-year-old composer at the end of World War II. The dedication "To the spirit of the divine Mozart at the end of a life filled with gratitude" reveals Strauss's return to classical traditions and his veneration of Mozart. The subtitle "Happy Workshop" suggests the cheerful, masterfully crafted character of the work.

The sonatina shows Strauss in his late style, freed from romantic excess. After the monumental operas and tone poems of his major creative period, the composer turned to chamber music and returned to a transparent, concentrated musical language. The scoring for wind ensemble reflects his preference for wind orchestra, which had already manifested itself in earlier works.

The work is considered an example of Strauss's late mastery in handling wind instruments and his ability to develop a characteristic, warm sound even with reduced forces. The key of E-flat major gives the music a friendly disposition that musically reinforces the subtitle "Happy Workshop."