Composer

:

Charles Wuorinen

Genre

:

Keyboard

Compose Date

:

2007

Average_duration

:

19:01

Charles Wuorinen's Piano Sonata No. 4 is a complex and challenging work that was composed in 1986. The piece was premiered on October 23, 1986, by pianist Ursula Oppens at the 92nd Street Y in New York City. The sonata is divided into four movements, each with its own distinct character and challenges for the performer. The first movement, marked "Allegro," is a frenetic and virtuosic display of technical skill. The music is characterized by rapid-fire runs and arpeggios, as well as sudden shifts in dynamics and tempo. The movement is highly dissonant, with clusters of notes and angular melodies that create a sense of tension and unease. The second movement, marked "Adagio," is a stark contrast to the first. It is a slow and introspective piece that explores the more lyrical and expressive qualities of the piano. The music is characterized by long, sustained chords and delicate, filigree-like passages. The movement is highly chromatic, with a sense of harmonic ambiguity that creates a dreamlike atmosphere. The third movement, marked "Scherzo," is a playful and energetic piece that showcases Wuorinen's sense of humor. The music is characterized by syncopated rhythms and unexpected accents, as well as sudden shifts in mood and tempo. The movement is highly contrapuntal, with multiple voices weaving in and out of each other in a complex and intricate dance. The final movement, marked "Allegro con fuoco," is a fiery and explosive conclusion to the sonata. The music is characterized by driving rhythms and intense, virtuosic passages that push the performer to their limits. The movement is highly dissonant, with clusters of notes and angular melodies that create a sense of urgency and excitement. Overall, Wuorinen's Piano Sonata No. 4 is a challenging and complex work that demands a high level of technical skill and musical sensitivity from the performer. The piece is characterized by its dissonant harmonies, complex rhythms, and sudden shifts in mood and tempo, as well as its sense of humor and playfulness.

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