Piano Sonata #5 in B flat minor - The Labyrinth

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This sonata is a solo transcription of the first movement of Domine’s "Piano Concerto #1 in B-flat minor." The piece is characterized as the juxtaposition of tonal centers that are set in diametric and proportional opposition comprising a kind of bi-tonal geometry. The formal structure is the working out of an equation that balances the disparate sections as integrated harmonic episodes that are enigmatic but at the same time represent an inherently logical sequence of events.

The quandary of the Labyrinth is a eurythmic conundrum of chaos that resolves rationally, finally emerging from confusion into the illuminated realms of tonality. The sonata begins with a slow introduction that presents two opposite harmonic realms based on the interval of a diminished fifth. As the opening sequence drifts aimlessly through a cloud of amorphous sonorities, the principal theme is suddenly and aggressively thrust center stage by an angry theme marked "Agitato." This theme wends its torturous way to the contrasting quiet subordinate theme. An episode of melancholic discourse ensues, creating an air of confidential intimacy. The exposition ends with an elided dominant cadence which is left unresolved and that leads directly to the development section.

Chord clusters built on composite hexachords provide a serialized variation on the principal theme. This tripartite antiphonal sequence works toward a culmination as the theme is expanded in rhythmic layers, linked together by a ritornello marked "Animato," finally reaching a cacophonic explosion that brings the development to a climax. Then a truncated restatement of the slow introduction leads to the recapitulation, this time with alternating variations on the principal theme. After the lyrical restatement of the Chopinesque subordinate theme, the coda confronts us starkly with a bleak almost fatalistic final statement of the main theme in the upper register. The sonata concludes with a fiery "prestissimo" flourish of parallel octaves.

This transcription for piano solo was made for pianist Vera Weber, who played it to considerable acclaim in multiple competitions and recitals, and who also gave one of the initial performances of the orchestral version of the piece. The digital recording was made in January 2022 by James Domine as part of an over-arching comprehensive YouTube anthology of all his piano sonatas.

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This sonata is a solo transcription of the first movement of Domine’s "Piano Concerto #1 in B-flat minor." The piece is characterized as the juxtaposition of tonal centers that are set in diametric and proportional opposition comprising a kind of bi-tonal geometry. The formal structure is the working out of an equation that balances the disparate sections as integrated harmonic episodes that are enigmatic but at the same time represent an inherently logical sequence of events.

The quandary of the Labyrinth is a eurythmic conundrum of chaos that resolves rationally, finally emerging from confusion into the illuminated realms of tonality. The sonata begins with a slow introduction that presents two opposite harmonic realms based on the interval of a diminished fifth. As the opening sequence drifts aimlessly through a cloud of amorphous sonorities, the principal theme is suddenly and aggressively thrust center stage by an angry theme marked "Agitato." This theme wends its torturous way to the contrasting quiet subordinate theme. An episode of melancholic discourse ensues, creating an air of confidential intimacy. The exposition ends with an elided dominant cadence which is left unresolved and that leads directly to the development section.

Chord clusters built on composite hexachords provide a serialized variation on the principal theme. This tripartite antiphonal sequence works toward a culmination as the theme is expanded in rhythmic layers, linked together by a ritornello marked "Animato," finally reaching a cacophonic explosion that brings the development to a climax. Then a truncated restatement of the slow introduction leads to the recapitulation, this time with alternating variations on the principal theme. After the lyrical restatement of the Chopinesque subordinate theme, the coda confronts us starkly with a bleak almost fatalistic final statement of the main theme in the upper register. The sonata concludes with a fiery "prestissimo" flourish of parallel octaves.

This transcription for piano solo was made for pianist Vera Weber, who played it to considerable acclaim in multiple competitions and recitals, and who also gave one of the initial performances of the orchestral version of the piece. The digital recording was made in January 2022 by James Domine as part of an over-arching comprehensive YouTube anthology of all his piano sonatas.

This sonata is a solo transcription of the first movement of Domine’s "Piano Concerto #1 in B-flat minor." The piece is characterized as the juxtaposition of tonal centers that are set in diametric and proportional opposition comprising a kind of bi-tonal geometry. The formal structure is the working out of an equation that balances the disparate sections as integrated harmonic episodes that are enigmatic but at the same time represent an inherently logical sequence of events.

The quandary of the Labyrinth is a eurythmic conundrum of chaos that resolves rationally, finally emerging from confusion into the illuminated realms of tonality. The sonata begins with a slow introduction that presents two opposite harmonic realms based on the interval of a diminished fifth. As the opening sequence drifts aimlessly through a cloud of amorphous sonorities, the principal theme is suddenly and aggressively thrust center stage by an angry theme marked "Agitato." This theme wends its torturous way to the contrasting quiet subordinate theme. An episode of melancholic discourse ensues, creating an air of confidential intimacy. The exposition ends with an elided dominant cadence which is left unresolved and that leads directly to the development section.

Chord clusters built on composite hexachords provide a serialized variation on the principal theme. This tripartite antiphonal sequence works toward a culmination as the theme is expanded in rhythmic layers, linked together by a ritornello marked "Animato," finally reaching a cacophonic explosion that brings the development to a climax. Then a truncated restatement of the slow introduction leads to the recapitulation, this time with alternating variations on the principal theme. After the lyrical restatement of the Chopinesque subordinate theme, the coda confronts us starkly with a bleak almost fatalistic final statement of the main theme in the upper register. The sonata concludes with a fiery "prestissimo" flourish of parallel octaves.

This transcription for piano solo was made for pianist Vera Weber, who played it to considerable acclaim in multiple competitions and recitals, and who also gave one of the initial performances of the orchestral version of the piece. The digital recording was made in January 2022 by James Domine as part of an over-arching comprehensive YouTube anthology of all his piano sonatas.