Piano Sonata (2016)

I've often contemplated how the story of my first sonata for piano would unfold. The piano is such a brilliant instrument, filled with many elements of expression. The "Sonata Narrative" has been told countless times by many different composers. It has been an incredible journey to craft a unique story amongst a sea of stories, each displaying attributes of life that have helped to shape the composer's musical language.

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The piece is in one movement, with 6 sections of developmental material. It is written as a single large narrative in which the material of each section grows in rhythmic complexity. From the beginning, singing voices lend themselves to an ever growing wall of sound that finally dissipates into a contrapuntal agitato. Once the climax of the piece is reached, the ethereal atmosphere from the start serves as a "return home."


The piece was written for my wonderful undergraduate piano professor, Dr. Kathryn Fouse of the Samford University School of the Arts.