AC3734DF-ACF4-418B-B22B-D3282D08BEA8

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IDAC3734DF-ACF4-418B-B22B-D3282D08BEA8
TitlecodeX410076
Title NameSonata for Piano
Marketing CopyThree-movement sonata composed for and recorded by the pianist of the California E.A.R. Unit, Vicki Ray, CRI CD 830.
InstrumentationPiano Solo
Commission(not set)
Dedication(not set)
Program NotesMy piano sonata was composed as a gift for Vicki Ray, the pianist with the California E.A.R. Unit, who premiered it in Spring of 1998 and later recorded it for CRI (CD 830). The piece is cast in three movements, the outer two being related both in thematic material and in their essentially somber mood. The central movement is considerably more playful and dance-like. The 'epicycles' of the movement's title refer to two bits of material, one of which starts the movement, that are generated by the nesting of simple rhythmic wheels within wheels, thus producing lively syncopated melodic figures. Some of the resulting motives suggested tap-dancing to me, so I ran with it, going so far as to place a rather idiosyncratic soft shoe as a 'trio' to the tap-dancing's 'minute.'

Stephen Hartke
Title Brand2
Year Composed1998
Copyright Number(not set)
Copyright Year(not set)
Duration15
Ensemble Size1
Date Created2008-10-31 20:32:02.000000
Date Updated2025-09-30 20:32:02
Inhouse Note5 yr term agreement.
Bsc Code(not set)
Text Author(not set)
Premier Performance Memo-Vicki Ray. 12 May 1998.
Recording CreditsRecorded by Vicky Ray,From the left edge, CRI CD 830.
Review"...begins heroically, dissonantly Chopinesque and then jazzes and rocks around spasmodically, hiply, taking on all corners in the second movement "Epicycles, Tap-Dancing and Soft Shoe" in a very knowing fashion. This is crossover as it should be: no pandering, just power and pleasure." --Mark Alburger, 21st Century Music<BR><BR>

"...is my favorite of the group [of pieces on the CD From the Left Edge, CRI 830]. Hartke's highly eclectic music is very American sounding, particularly in his use of fourth and fifth based harmonies and his dynamic sense of rhythm. Like his Auld Swaara violin concerto, the Sonata (1998) works with simultaneous opposing tempos. It sounds, particularly in the middle movement, with its jazzy chords and syncopation, Nancarrow-like. The first and third movements, inverting the tradition, are both slow, seeming somewhat like commentary on one another with their fistfuls of chords..." <BR>-Robert Kirzinger, Fanfare
Awards(not set)
Title Category5
Title Movements(not set)
Title Grade(not set)
Set Series ID(not set)
Title Instrument Category TextPiano
Title Sub Category Text(not set)
Title Sub Category101
Title Instrument Header34
Title Grade Text(not set)
Clean Urlsonata-for-piano-x410076