Piano Sonata #26 in B-flat minor - Rondo scherzando
Listen to Piano Sonata #26 in B-flat minor - Rondo scherzando
The "Piano Sonata #26 in B-flat minor" (Rondo scherzando) by James Domine attempts to reconcile the strife of conflicting emotions by tempering despair with hopefulness. This sonata is a cathartic expression of the transcendence of the human spirit over adversity. The exuberant opening theme is followed by an agitated passage that dissolves into the subordinate theme, an hypnotic meditation with the piano providing a jazz-like improvisation. This is juxtaposed against a scherzando section, hence the sub-title, a kind of musical satire using fragments of motives as comedic characters in an offbeat parody. The musical subject of the scherzando section, because of its curious, almost quirky melodic sequence of intervals that defy tonal identification, lends itself to the expression of mysterious or unanswered rhetorical questions, and is seemingly a favorite of Domine's having been used as the opening theme of his "Piano Concerto #1" and also in the "Requiem aeternam" movement of his setting of the traditional Latin Requiem text. An harmonic sequence of gently unfolding chords in contrary motion leads gradually upwards, forming a transition back to the main theme. A plaintive restatement of the subordinate theme ensues, and for a moment the piece seems to be losing itself in darkness as it spirals downward into a new dimension of melancholic depression. Just as the piano can seemingly descend no farther into the abyss, it turns a corner and an aggressively resurgent main theme asserts itself, providing the vehicle for a final ascent into hitherto unexplored harmonic realms. The textures expand as the music moves inexorably upwards, leading to a freshly rejuvenated principal theme that this time is counterpoised against memories of the exposition, quoted like fading last vestiges of a cold winter, melting away into the coda with a triumphant final statement of the main theme, a feeling of transcendent serenity vanquishes the darkness of melancholy, bringing the sonata to a brilliant conclusion in the key of B-flat major.
Listen to Piano Sonata #26 in B-flat minor - Rondo scherzando
The "Piano Sonata #26 in B-flat minor" (Rondo scherzando) by James Domine attempts to reconcile the strife of conflicting emotions by tempering despair with hopefulness. This sonata is a cathartic expression of the transcendence of the human spirit over adversity. The exuberant opening theme is followed by an agitated passage that dissolves into the subordinate theme, an hypnotic meditation with the piano providing a jazz-like improvisation. This is juxtaposed against a scherzando section, hence the sub-title, a kind of musical satire using fragments of motives as comedic characters in an offbeat parody. The musical subject of the scherzando section, because of its curious, almost quirky melodic sequence of intervals that defy tonal identification, lends itself to the expression of mysterious or unanswered rhetorical questions, and is seemingly a favorite of Domine's having been used as the opening theme of his "Piano Concerto #1" and also in the "Requiem aeternam" movement of his setting of the traditional Latin Requiem text. An harmonic sequence of gently unfolding chords in contrary motion leads gradually upwards, forming a transition back to the main theme. A plaintive restatement of the subordinate theme ensues, and for a moment the piece seems to be losing itself in darkness as it spirals downward into a new dimension of melancholic depression. Just as the piano can seemingly descend no farther into the abyss, it turns a corner and an aggressively resurgent main theme asserts itself, providing the vehicle for a final ascent into hitherto unexplored harmonic realms. The textures expand as the music moves inexorably upwards, leading to a freshly rejuvenated principal theme that this time is counterpoised against memories of the exposition, quoted like fading last vestiges of a cold winter, melting away into the coda with a triumphant final statement of the main theme, a feeling of transcendent serenity vanquishes the darkness of melancholy, bringing the sonata to a brilliant conclusion in the key of B-flat major.
Listen to Piano Sonata #26 in B-flat minor - Rondo scherzando
The "Piano Sonata #26 in B-flat minor" (Rondo scherzando) by James Domine attempts to reconcile the strife of conflicting emotions by tempering despair with hopefulness. This sonata is a cathartic expression of the transcendence of the human spirit over adversity. The exuberant opening theme is followed by an agitated passage that dissolves into the subordinate theme, an hypnotic meditation with the piano providing a jazz-like improvisation. This is juxtaposed against a scherzando section, hence the sub-title, a kind of musical satire using fragments of motives as comedic characters in an offbeat parody. The musical subject of the scherzando section, because of its curious, almost quirky melodic sequence of intervals that defy tonal identification, lends itself to the expression of mysterious or unanswered rhetorical questions, and is seemingly a favorite of Domine's having been used as the opening theme of his "Piano Concerto #1" and also in the "Requiem aeternam" movement of his setting of the traditional Latin Requiem text. An harmonic sequence of gently unfolding chords in contrary motion leads gradually upwards, forming a transition back to the main theme. A plaintive restatement of the subordinate theme ensues, and for a moment the piece seems to be losing itself in darkness as it spirals downward into a new dimension of melancholic depression. Just as the piano can seemingly descend no farther into the abyss, it turns a corner and an aggressively resurgent main theme asserts itself, providing the vehicle for a final ascent into hitherto unexplored harmonic realms. The textures expand as the music moves inexorably upwards, leading to a freshly rejuvenated principal theme that this time is counterpoised against memories of the exposition, quoted like fading last vestiges of a cold winter, melting away into the coda with a triumphant final statement of the main theme, a feeling of transcendent serenity vanquishes the darkness of melancholy, bringing the sonata to a brilliant conclusion in the key of B-flat major.