Piano Sonatas I–IV

This volume presents a critical edition of Allen Sapp's four earliest piano sonatas, the first written at just age nineteen while he was a student of Walter Piston at Harvard in 1941. Piano Sonatas II, III, and IV were completed while Sapp was on sabbatical from Harvard and living in Rome in 1957. The three Roman piano sonatas are remarkable in that they were composed using serial procedures, yet they were intentionally written to have strong tonal centers (especially the third sonata). Irving Fine, who gave the premiere performance of Piano Sonata I, composed an ossia of a passage in the second movement, which is included in the edition.

IRVING FINE (1914–1962)Mutability (1952)

This chapter describes Irving Fine’s Mutability. This cycle is distinctive and powerful, with striking musical and verbal images. The musical style can be described as neoclassical with elements of serialism, yet there is great flexibility and variety within the strict compositional procedures. The singer will need to command a wide range of colours and dynamics, as well as rapid articulation. A high standard of musicianship is also expected, especially for pitching some difficult intervals. A voice with a cutting edge will sound well here. Darker, fuller tones, verging on a contralto-like quality, will enhance lower-lying passages. However, the singer must always be able to move around nimbly, producing a clear tone over the whole range. The pianist will also have a good time getting to grips with an exciting part.

Record Review

‘Gloriana’ and ‘The Beggar's Opera’ Robin Holloway‘The Rape of Lucretia’ Michael OliverGoldschmidt's ‘Der gewaltige Hahnrei’ Ronald WeitzmanMalipiero's Symphonies Bret JohnsonHavergal Brian's Violin Concerto John PickardTwo new Allan Pettersson series Guy RickardsMorton Feldman Nicolas HodgesNancarrow for live performers John WarnabyIrving Fine and other Americans Bret JohnsonStefan Wolpe Nicolas HodgesPhilip Glass Mike SeabrookIcelandic orchestral music Guy RickardsKorngold Martin AndersonKoechlin Calum MacDonald