Sonata in A Major, First Movement

[martinzufall]

Here is the first movement to my fourth piano sonata. Although the ideas presented themselves to me six years ago in grad school I just finished it in the last couple of months thanks to my newly found free time.
Those of you who have visited my webpage may be surprised to hear this piece as it is a very traditional sonata. I hope you enjoy it.
http://www.orgleslop.com/compositionsite/sonataAmaj.htm

[MaestroX]

Great piece, I really like it. Any chance of seeing a score? I would like to analyis this piece a bit more than what I can from the recording.

I'm assuming since this is a first movement that you have more? I would love to hear them

[martinzufall]

Glad you enjoyed it!
Currently I am working on "prettifying" the score. Should have it up in a day or so.
There currently is no second or third movement but I am working on them.

[MaestroX]

Good to hear, its definatly a solid work with great potencial to do well in a performance. Just out of interest have you or someone performed it for an audience or are you waiting until you have the complete work completed?

[Will Kirk]

Can you post a Midi? I can't seem to access the webpage. I'd love to comment, but the silly internet has other ideas :tongue:

[martinzufall]

Try this...I haven't figured out how to actually upload music directly to Music-Web. Must be my firewall's's's.
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/songInfo.cfm?bandID=617307

[Will Kirk]

oh yes, Soundclick is one of the more superior hosting pages on the web.

I will leave a full review later, I have school to attend to right now

[Majesty]

A very nice piece.

It seems that the sonata resembled the traditional Sonata-Allegro form. It was nice not to have all the traditional expectaions. Was there a specific formal pattern that was used?

[ttw]

I liket the piece very much. The only thing I think could use some tinkering is the initial measure. It could make a stronger statement. Of course, maybe some of that opinion is due to the media player not starting strongly.

[martinzufall]

Originally Posted by Majesty

A very nice piece.

It seems that the sonata resembled the traditional Sonata-Allegro form. It was nice not to have all the traditional expectaions. Was there a specific formal pattern that was used?

It is a traditional Sonata-Allegro form in that there is an exposition, development (a short one as I really do not like "spinning" through keys too much...it bores me) and a return. I like to compose using this form because of its challenges. I recommend it to anyone who wants to improve their thematic writing and flex their brain a little.

Some things I did to change it up a little: I used an unexpected but related key for the second theme (C# minor - the relative minor of the dominant) instead of the typical dominant or relative minor of the tonic. I keep my developments short (reasons already stated) about 24 measures.

I give the audience a clue that the development section has ended by climaxing the piece a measure before the return. I accomplish the climax by employing the higest pitch (B6) at the loudest volume followed by a quarter rest. Then the first theme enters just as simply as in the exposition but instead of a return in the original key, I returned in the dominant for the first theme and delayed the tonal return until the restatement of the second theme. The second theme was originally minor and now in the return it is major. That difference helps keep the ideas fresh. I mulled over whether to use A minor for the return's second theme instead, for more unity, but finally decided to use the tonic to give the movement proper roundness. I dont have an introduction or a coda, not needed in my opinion...well maybe a coda but since this is the first movement and not the last it should be okay.

Sorry for the length.