Recorded by Paul York (cello) and Michael Gurt (piano)
Sonata for Cello and Piano was composed for cellist Paul York, who premiered the work with Michael Gurt at the University of Louisville on November 3, 2005. The sonata’s four movements share musical materials and a deeper structural connection. One of the most easily heard common elements is an expressive rising major third interval, which is embedded throughout the score in the melodic language and the harmonic structure and motion alike.
In the first movement, spiky piano writing contrasts with more lyrical cello material, though the cello is sometimes convinced to join the piano’s exuberance. The second movement features sudden shifts between sweet, gentle expressions and rough bursts. Throughout movement three, long-lined, lyrical cello is accompanied by swirling piano. The final movement is, to my mind, a barnburner. It takes off and never stops, continuing to ratchet up the intensity at every turn and pushing its own limits.