Sonata for Cello and Piano
The cello sonata took some time to write, and there was a great number
of ideas that had to be structured
to fit into the
general plan. Originally, the inclusion of a 4'th movement was a
possibility, but as the work progressed, the idea was dismissed.
The first movement starts with a cello solo, that includes part of the
main theme.
The general shape of the movement is loosely modelled over the
traditional Sonata form, with a main theme, a side theme and the
following development of these ideas. Second movement is fast, almost
virtuoso, with an A B A structure, the middle section is slow and
cantabile. The outer sections are written in various meters, 5/8, 6/8,
7/8 and so on. During the whole movement, the intensity is increasing,
and goes all the way to the end.
The third movement is misterioso, improvisando, and deals with
structures and harmonies in a different way. Some material from first
and second movement reappears in a different setting. At the end, the
pianist is asked to play broken chords directly on the grand piano
strings using a plectrum, creating a harp/guitar broken cord effect,
the harmony foundation for a high-pitched muted cello figure with
repeated motes, improvisando-like, and this structure is taken up by
the piano, and leads towards the end of the movement.
First performance took place at the Royal Danish Conservatory of Music
in Copenhagen, the composer playing the cello and Therese Koppel
Kampmann playing the piano.
The Finale music notation program simulations (that are used for most of the excerpts), are far from perfect. I could have used recordings from an actual performance, but the simulations provide a "neutral" interpretation, and together with the score, they give a fairly relevant picture of the music in question.