"Epistrophe" (sonata for 'cello and piano)--Mvt. 1 Pesante: Lento con tristezza

2 IMPORTANT NOTES:
1. The .pdf file is posted on the 9th post down....
2. MP3: I was privileged to have an eccelent recording of this movement produced(faculty pianist and...I won't lie; it wasn't championed by another: I'm playing the cello...but hey...cello performance is my major!). Anyone is welcome to hear it, but it's an mp3. Just shoot me a 1-liner e-mail to the address below, and I'll get it to you within the day!

bpopw750@students.bju.edu

About the piece:
This is a solo sonata I am working on depicting an upward progression from despair to hope. This first movement portrays despair and a futile search for meaning and satisfaction (portrayed with what I hope is sensitivity and tasteful tonality--not that I have anything against atonal/serial works ).
Brooks

For those that may be interested, here's a more complete description of what I intend in this programmatic work:

An elegy-of-sorts that I intend to convey the hopelessness one can reach in life, the movement opens with funereal piano solo introducing the two themes. I actually drew these fragments from the hymn-tunes ST. ELIZABETH and HALLELUJAH, WHAT A SAVIOR. Except for the piano solo, these fragments appear in inversion, a technique which may prove useful to portray the spiritual "reversal" later in the piece. Two central "seeking" sections develop the two themes with short melodies that quickly build and crash down unsatisfied. Framing these sections, a wandering version of the first theme depicts an underlying, encroaching despair, and the movement concludes with the funeral dirge of the piano ending in listless frustration. The other two movements will convey the journey from such despair to hope.

I like it

I especially like the piano intro.

Let me first talk about what I hear. First of all, I can definitely hear tonality in this piece, and it's very tasteful indeed, just like you said. The cello theme was beautiful, reminded me of the Secret Garden soundtrack. Not because it sounds similar, but because it uses almost the same instrumentation (string instruments playing sad, mournful yet romentic theme). The 2nd theme for the cello IMO was more emotional. Not as pretty as the first, but more energetic. The ending was good too, very final.

Next, you labelled this piece as a sonata. But if I remember correctly, the 1st movement of a sonata is supposed to be in Sonata Allegro form. I can't hear the recap in it though.

Overall, it's a beautiful piece of music, which I enjoyed listening to. You play the cello really well. Keep it up!

thank you for your gracious words, Nigel.
Yes, it's true; I'm not totally following the typical sonata pattern, but call it artistic license and that wonderful freedom we have as 21st century composers . Maybe it'll make more sense when I finish the work....
(and actually, the original theme comes back in a double sense: after the climax at the end of the 3rd theme and followed by the piano introduction (although just a snippet). So it's kind of in a "chiastic" form, ABCDBA.
Legit criticism, though.
Thanks again,
Brooks

I really like the use of dissonance to set up a feeling of despair in the beginning, as the piece progressed, i could truly feel what you were trying to say.

I like how the piece progresses. It has very smooth transitions. Very nice work!

I'm glad you both think the piece's structure supported the idea behind it. Thanks for taking time to comment. Glad also, maelstrom, that you see the dissonance as being tasteful...a goal of mine, though I admit, I need to learn to expand my harmonic capability even further.

Here's the PDF.
Brooks

Well Brooks, I have to say, this is not only good, its beautiful. Realy this is some of the best cello music i have heard. A wonderful melodyline ( and you play it so well ). i cant say anything but very good, impressive!