Sonata no 27 in C major ( Binary)

I am very happy to share my 27th Piano Sonata, written in binary form. The work is written in an Allegro character and explores contrasts between lively, restless passages and more expressive and introspective moments, with changing harmonic colours and a gradual movement towards a quiet and gentle conclusion.

I have dedicated this Sonata to my dear friend Henry, as a small expression of my appreciation and admiration for him, both as a composer and, above all, as a friend. It is a great pleasure for me to dedicate one of my works to someone whose music I appreciate and whose friendship I value deeply.

The performance is my own, using the J. Weimes Fortepiano (1808) from Pianoteq 9.

I hope you enjoy listening to it, and I would be very happy to hear your thoughts and impressions.

Love this! Quite an interesting mesh of Baroque and Classical style. What I find rather baroque is the rather contrapuntal texture in this piece, although there are still some clear melodic lines like in Classical music

1 hour ago, zhenkang said:

Love this! Quite an interesting mesh of Baroque and Classical style. What I find rather baroque is the rather contrapuntal texture in this piece, although there are still some clear melodic lines like in Classical music

My dear friend, thank you so much for your kind words. I’m really happy that you liked it. I may have Scarlatti as a model for my binary sonatas, but my writing is more classical in character. In general, it is a blend of everything, and when it comes to structure, I focus more on classical musical dramaturgy. Thank you once again!

@Vasilis Michael This is a delight. It sounds like it’s right out of the classical repertoire, though with touches of modern harmony in there. Perfect music to help someone relax. It’s light, graceful, and airy. You have a really nice touch.

I like how you pepper in lots of false cadences, when it sounds like it’s about to resolve but instead presents a bit of mystery to the listener. Those moments help keep the drama flowing throughout.

Well done!

7 minutes ago, Seni-G said:

@Vasilis Michael This is a delight. It sounds like it’s right out of the classical repertoire, though with touches of modern harmony in there. Perfect music to help someone relax. It’s light, graceful, and airy. You have a really nice touch.

I like how you pepper in lots of false cadences, when it sounds like it’s about to resolve but instead presents a bit of mystery to the listener. Those moments help keep the drama flowing throughout.

Well done!

Thank you so much, my dear friend! I’m really happy that you noticed those false cadences. I invest a lot in the dramatic aspect of my music, and I generally love surprises and unexpected moments, but always with balance and naturalness. Although the Classical era is always like a shadow behind my writing and continues to influence me, these unexpected elements are something I learned especially from Scarlatti. I feel incredibly blessed that I discovered his music and had the opportunity to understand and absorb so much from his unique way of writing. Thank you again for listening so carefully and for your beautiful words. They truly mean a lot to me!

Ah, I wish I were Henry...
You are a lucky man, @Henry Ng Tsz Kiu, to have such a nice friend who composed music dedicated to you and your musical talent!

As for the music itself, I don't even need to say anything because your music always sounds so high-level and lovely.
I want to see you play your pieces in the future.
Great, thank you for sharing, Vasilis!

Best,

Lithl.

I really enjoyed this. Yes, in the broadest sense I got an immediate Scarlatti vibe, but your unique voice is dominant. I think of binary pieces as more limited, but you developed this nicely. The mood changes were really well done. You moved between keys and motives quickly without it ever sound schizophrenic. It's exuberant music, with a clear drive and direction. I never felt lost even when I didn't know what was coming next.

Thanks for sharing.

7 hours ago, Lithl said:

Ah, I wish I were Henry...
You are a lucky man, @Henry Ng Tsz Kiu, to have such a nice friend who composed music dedicated to you and your musical talent!

As for the music itself, I don't even need to say anything because your music always sounds so high-level and lovely.
I want to see you play your pieces in the future.
Great, thank you for sharing, Vasilis!

Best,

Lithl.

@Lithl My dear friend, I truly don’t know how else to thank you. Your appreciation, both for me as a person and for my music, genuinely makes me very happy. I’m so glad that you enjoyed this sonata as well, and it means a great deal to me that you took the time to listen to it and share your thoughts.

As for my dear friend @Henry Ng Tsz Kiu , I have had the pleasure of considering him a friend for quite some time now. Even though we are separated by distance, we are in touch almost every day and we often talk about music. Above all, there is a deep mutual respect between us, as well as a genuine love for music.

Lately, we have been talking quite a lot about Scarlatti. Henry not only loves Scarlatti, but also listens to and performs his music. Since I also have a deep love for Scarlatti, especially his binary sonatas, this shared passion for his music has brought us even closer. And so, I felt the need to dedicate one of my own binary sonatas to him. I’m truly very happy and touched that I had the opportunity to do so.

7 hours ago, Brs said:

I really enjoyed this. Yes, in the broadest sense I got an immediate Scarlatti vibe, but your unique voice is dominant. I think of binary pieces as more limited, but you developed this nicely. The mood changes were really well done. You moved between keys and motives quickly without it ever sound schizophrenic. It's exuberant music, with a clear drive and direction. I never felt lost even when I didn't know what was coming next.

Thanks for sharing.

Thank you so much for this thoughtful and beautiful comment. It truly means a lot to me that you not only felt the Scarlatti influence, but also sensed that my own voice remains at the heart of the piece. That balance is something I care about deeply.

I love working within the binary form, but I also enjoy pushing its boundaries through unexpected changes of mood, harmony and direction. As you said, I love surprises and unexpected moments, but I always try to keep them balanced and natural, so that the music never loses its sense of direction. Scarlatti has taught me a great deal in that respect.

I’m especially happy that, even when you didn’t know what was coming next, you never felt lost. For me, that is one of the most important things in music: to surprise the listener without losing them. Thank you again for listening so carefully and for understanding what I’m trying to do. It truly means a lot to me.