Sonata for piccolo and piano (Anton Stuk) PHYSICAL

Around 12 minutes at a Late Advanced Level.

This is a one-movement work that combines elements of classical form and structure with avant-garde aesthetics, techniques and textures. This is a unique work in the collection as it is the only work specifically written for piccolo and piano by a Ukrainian composer. The Sonata begins with a theme being presented in the piccolo that utilizes repeated notes for emphasis, technical flourishes and pitch bends. The piano responds with staccato chords. This leads into a brief quasi-improvised cadenza moment in the piano before a full statement of the theme in the piccolo with accompaniment figures in the piano, typically eighth note chords underneath the piccolo’s more active moments and then technical flourishes during the piccolo’s longer note values. The material in the piccolo is usually lyrical in nature with technical flourishes and embellishments added as the phrase develops. The next main section marked “Giocoso” has a more dance-like character featuring a lilting line consisting of three eighth notes leading to a group of sixteenth notes in a sequential manner. The piano plays chords on the main beats with the occasional pickup to create forward momentum. As it progresses, the piano becomes a more equal and active voice in the texture creating a dialogue between the two instruments.. Eventually, a new texture takes over consisting of the pianist knocking on the wood of the instrument as interjections in between a fragmented line in the piccolo. As with previous sections, it develops into a full fledged dialogue of independent parts between the two instruments that interweave together. Eventually, this gets interrupted by a more lyrical “Adagio” section in which the piccolo plays a string of slurred eighth notes overtop of chordal accompanimental in the piano. As it develops, it becomes more virtuosic and complex leading back to the opening material to conclude the work.

Recording: https://soundcloud.com/cjkl/sonate-for-flute-piccolo-and-piano