Brian Kane -- Sonata for Piano (1999)
 
Sonata for Piano
 
The “Sonata for Piano” was composed as an attempt to consolidate various compositional techniques used in previous works, especially my Six Pieces for Trio, into a large, multi-movement work for a solo instrument. In thinking about how to proceed, the idea of writing a piano sonata suggested itself. Formally, I composed along traditional lines. The piece is comprised of a first movement in “sonata form”, a slow second movement in a rounded form, and a quick theme and variations for the final movement. This final movement is the most unusual: after basing its theme on a single bar from the 2nd movement, and moving through a series of variations, the opening melody from the 1st movement re-appears in the final variation. The theme and melody combine, effecting a “chemical reaction” and producing a violent climactic outburst.