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Cattie
Temple University

Date Joined Mar 2007
Total Posts : 1740

Posted 9/17/2009 9:21 PM (GMT -5)

Piano Sonata No. 5 in C# minor

Mp3 link:
I. Molto feroce, e dramatico; fugato

I might make alterations to the end, as I usually do, but it's mostly here... longest sonata movement to date, but not too long I hope. Fierce, passionate and dynamic to start, moving suddenly into a more static, idyllic theme in the upper register... short transition from this first group ending in major to a very distant key (F major) and the theme that will be mixed with the fierce theme in the fugato in the development. Exposition ends with a dramatic progression and a corresponding treatment of the first theme.

Enjoy! Second movement is already begun, may turn out even better!

Jeff Cattie (ASCAP)
Custom Print Dept., Theodore Presser Co. (www.presser.com)
Bachelor of Music, Mus. Ed. - Temple University

Current projects: Piano Sonata No. 4 mvts III and IV; 'Bird Song' Quartet mvts I, II, and VI; 'The Neshaminy' Suite
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Post Edited (Cattie) : 9/17/2009 8:24:03 PM (GMT-5)

Jeff Nicholas
Eastern Michigan University

Date Joined Jul 2007
Total Posts : 336

Posted 9/18/2009 9:48 PM (GMT -5)

Hey Cattie, glad to see you on again! I shouldn't be talking though, I haven't been a frequent visitor either. I've started music classes finally, though, so maybe some composing will flow out of me.

Anyways, cool piece! I'm no Beethoven expert, but I can hear his influence in this work (at least I think so, lol). I especially love what you have at 3:45 and again at 8:15, I listened to it a couple of times. Sounds really really cool. The ending was pretty crazy, in a good way though lol. Other than that, great writing as always; it has a very professional sound. Can't wait for the other movements!

As an aside, I think you should definitely do some more with those sections I mentioned (3:45 and 8:15). They're pretty awesome.

"I look at the Third Symphony of Brahms and I feel like a tinker." - Edward Elgar
"I believe in Bach the Father, Beethoven the Son, and Brahms the Holy Ghost of music." - Hans von Bülow

SoundClick Page

Current Projects: Violin Sonata, mvt. I; Piano Quintet, mvt. I; String Quartet, mvt. I; Concert Piece for Orchestra

Cattie
Temple University

Date Joined Mar 2007
Total Posts : 1740

Posted 9/18/2009 11:52 PM (GMT -5)

Hey Jeff!

Thanks for listening... those parts, 3:45 and 8:15 (although one is in the development and one in the coda, treated more as a recap) are a major theme in the piece - lol it's hard for me to think of what ELSE to do with them! There IS a similar theme in the second movement that I take from that pattern, although it's inverted. If you have any ideas about what I can do with it, I'm always open!

Can't wait to write the rest!

Jeff Nicholas
Eastern Michigan University

Date Joined Jul 2007
Total Posts : 336

Posted 9/19/2009 9:50 AM (GMT -5)

Cattie said...
There IS a similar theme in the second movement that I take from that pattern, although it's inverted.

That's pretty much what I meant; take those themes and do something with them in other movements. I don't want to give specifics though, because I really can't lol and because you probably have a better idea of what you would do. Those themes are just too cool to not do more with them, you know? So yeah, I really look forward to the rest of the sonata!

Cattie
Temple University

Date Joined Mar 2007
Total Posts : 1740

Posted 9/21/2009 5:52 PM (GMT -5)

So far, I have the exposition of the second movement... the beginning starts very softly, with four statements of the main motive - after which, there is the sudden, harsh outburst of a consequent phrase. The soft statement comes back loud at first, but then softens, and the consequent phrase (which is now in two parts, beginning on the same exact notes as the last two statements) remains soft, slowly increasing until the real first theme begins.

Exciting stuff ;)

Post Edited (Cattie) : 9/21/2009 4:56:33 PM (GMT-5)

Devin Chaloux
Registered Member

Date Joined Feb 2008
Total Posts : 1009

Posted 11/2/2009 10:07 PM (GMT -5)

Jeff N,

Little surprised you didn't here the Brahmsian twists in here. The intro is big on the piano...something just classic Brahms piano writing.

I really feel like this movement is a bit of a mix between Schubert and Brahms...definitely more classical moments, but definitely a heavily late Romantic style piece.

Impressive. Nothing much else I have to say about it.

Devin

netmuzik
Registered Member

Date Joined Sep 2008
Total Posts : 237

Posted 11/22/2009 2:00 AM (GMT -5)

Very good, Cattie. I didn't find the movement too long in the least. The middle sags just a bit, but not enough to weigh down the movement. Very good, clean piano writing. Your abilities are maturing.

Composition style: Romantic (non-Wagnerian), apparently with a few quirks thrown in
Influenced by: Johann Strauss II, and others
Emphasis: waltzes, marches, plus some popular music styles

jk
Registered Member

Date Joined Feb 2009
Total Posts : 644

Posted 11/22/2009 5:33 AM (GMT -5)

Certainly not too long - impressive piece of music. The first 30 measures seamlessly fitting into Brahms' Intermezzo's. A 'tying' pace, the fugato treated skillfully. The only thing that worries me is the short sentences here and there, the music doesn't obey Milhaud's (in his Music without Notes) prerequisites: music should go on and on; there are too many 'holes'.
Enjoyed it anyway!

^{Instruments: flute, piano, harpsichord}

^{Deliberately change your mind decisively from time to time!}

Cattie
Temple University

Date Joined Mar 2007
Total Posts : 1740

Posted 11/26/2009 5:10 PM (GMT -5)

netmuzik said...
The middle sags just a bit

You're referring to the part where all the themes are in counterpoint with each other? Hmm. I guess I should just take that part out, huh? lol Not important, really...

Jeff Cattie (ASCAP)
Theodore Presser Co. (www.presser.com)
Bachelor of Music, Mus. Ed. - Temple University

Current projects: Piano Sonata No. 4 mvts III and IV; 'Bird Song' Quartet mvts I, II, and VI; 'The Neshaminy' Suite
Composer website
Music page
Buy scores

BIGHIG13
Registered Member

Date Joined Nov 2009
Total Posts : 67

Posted 11/27/2009 12:53 PM (GMT -5)

I agree that the middle section loses a little momentum, but on the whole, I think it's great. I love the phrasing.

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