Sonata consists of three movements:
1. Expressive recitation. Flexible melodic line has been built of short phrases,
each of them contains the new type of expression, and the general layout is
formed as a mosaic kaleidoscope of different emotional moods. Lamentation,
indifference, fluctuation, enthusiasm, grotesque, irritation, shimmering,
prostration are just some of the sound images, all of them being shaped just with
brief hint, echo, fluent silhouette, broken fragment... Diversity of the colours
gets equal to unification of thematisism: all the elements of the texture are
united with common micro-motives.
2. Perpetuum mobile. Unlike the first movement, the second is filled with
mechanical ostinato motion; the swift running of sixteenths is occasionally
interrupted with short rests. In its general character, this movement resembles
gloomy muted scherzo.
3. Finale combines the features of the previous movements and presents new
transformation of them. In the beginning and during quite long period there are
only pizzicato sounds, which add some chimerical colour to the expressive
melodic line. Gradually soft harmonics are added to the plucked tones, then
rapid passages and recitative fragments appear. Gradual development leads to
extended and emotionally tense climax. The last section brings release and
lucidity, the melody breaks into separated sound points in the highest registry.
Sonata was premiered by Alexander Zagorinsky on September 20, 2006 in Moscow.
Alexander Shchetynsky
© 2003 by Alexander Shchetynsky