Sonata for Cello and Harp

Here is my most recent composition. Being my first extended work featuring harp, it proved to be a challenging but rewarding experience.

My aim with this work was to further develop the harmonic language in my String Quartet, which was quite a task considering the harp is often thought to be a rather harmonically limited instrument. However, despite my initial concern about these "limitations," I discovered that one can write harp music that is *very* chromatic and pushes tonal boundaries.

My harmonic language is based primarily on polytonality, which I used extensively in this work. The main "key" of the work is E, which is juxtaposed rather constantly with the key of Eb throughout the piece (particularly in the fourth movement).

The first movement ("Rubato") begins by introducing the main theme of the work, which appears both directly and subtly in all of the movements. The movement continues to develop freely, moving the theme through an assortment of variations before reaching a climax. The intensity of the music quickly drops, leading to a transitional section where rhythmic and thematic motives from the second movement are introduced quietly. The movement ends unresolved and the second movement begins abruptly, a dance-like scherzo characterized by a motive based on alternating 5/8 and 6/8 meters. The third movement ("Adagio") features the harp extensively and places a greater emphasis on textural experimentation. Building up to a dramatically virtuosic section for the harp, the music fades to nothing and is followed by another transitional section which emphasizes the polychords that are featured prominently in the fourth movement (the aforementioned E-Eb, and also Eb-G). The fourth movement ("Presto") moves perpetually, eventually reaching a climax where the cello plays the main theme of the work adorned by polytonal harp flourishes. After falling back down to pianissimo, the beginning section of the "Presto" returns. The music builds once more and then ends quietly, with the cello resolving in E and the harp in Eb.

Sonata for Cello and Harp

Does anyone have any feedback?

I realize it's been a while since I posted this, but I noticed that a fair amount of people listened to it and yet there are no replies. Any thoughts at all...? All comments are greatly appreciated.

I don't have any criticism for you. I like it. I think it an amazing thing that you have going where you get so much out of a combination of two instruments that are usually not combined in this way. I remember listening to one of your symphonies I believe a while ago and was very impressed. I am now impressed again. I don't always like the harmonies you choose in this piece, but I am beyond impressed with how full a sound you get and how many different was you accompany each instrument to the other. It is beautiful.

I don't have any criticism for you. I like it. I think it an amazing thing that you have going where you get so much out of a combination of two instruments that are usually not combined in this way. I remember listening to one of your symphonies I believe a while ago and was very impressed. I am now impressed again. I don't always like the harmonies you choose in this piece, but I am beyond impressed with how full a sound you get and how many different was you accompany each instrument to the other. It is beautiful.

Thank you very much; I glad you enjoyed it! I found that it was definitely one of the most difficult pieces to write, simply because of the amount of considerations one has to make when writing for harp, but it's great to know that the hard work paid off!

Wow. I really love your harmonic language. And in combination with the instruments works really well.

The neo-romantic scope of the work (as in duration) was a tad too much for me. It's a matter of taste, but I do not like it when something gets too long. Note, there is nothing wrong with your development. I think it has enough contrast, and there is harmonic interest. So I can't really pinpoint the cause of my feeling. Maybe I am just not in the mood for long(er-ish) pieces...?

Anyway, I will certainly follow your work. And thank you for sharing!