Rudolf Ondrich - Sonata in G Minor for Pianoforte and Clarinet

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8F81LUz-dM&fmt=18 for STEREO Sound.
Hi all. This is my Sonata in G Minor for Pianoforte and Clarinet, my first proper composition. I go to the Queensland Academy for Science, Mathematics and Technology (QASMT) in Brisbane, Australia. For my music class we had to come up with a composition, and I did this one. The teacher game me 25/25 for it. We also had to write a small essay on the piece, and mine is below. I created this piece using Sibelus 5 under Windows Vista.

General Statement
For our term 2 Pre-IB course, we were asked to write a composition, and I have responded to this by writing the first movement for a Sonata in G minor for Pianoforte and clarinet. I do have every intention of completing the sonata by writing the 2nd and 3rd movements for it in the near future. I have written it for the clarinet because a) the clarinet is a transposing instrument and b) the only other major transposing instrument is the saxophone, and the saxophone is generally not regarded to be an instrument for classical music. The piece is structured in modified Sonata form. The major difference is that instead of modulating to the Major dominant (D Major), I modulated to the Major submediant (Eb Major). (A famous example of this modulation occurs in Schubert's Symphony No. 8 in B minor, where the second subject is in G major instead of F# major. I suggest that he modulates to G major instead of F# major because G major is a much easier key to play in for an orchestra than F# major). As the title suggests, the home key of the sonata is G minor, but some sections of it are in Eb major, Bb major and C minor. The major sections of the sonata are located in bars 1 -- 30 (The Exposition), bars 31 -- 82 (The Development) and bars 83 -- 124 (The recapitulation)

Introduction and Exposition (Bars 1 - 30)
The introduction is located in bars 1-4. Usually, the introduction is separate from the exposition, but I choose to join them together as a whole. The idea of an exposition is to "expose" the raw materials that are going to be used in the piece, which I have done. The exposition introduces two main tunes. Both of these melodies are initially stated by the clarinet. The first melody is located in bars 7 to 13, and the second theme is located in the last beat of bar 7 and finishes in bar 22. Bar 23 deliberately has a straight crotchet so to give the clarinettist a chance to breathe.

Development (Bars 31 - 82)
In the development section, I have developed the two main melodies, whilst adding a lot of new material to keep the listener/performer interested. The development starts off with the first melody being played by the piano, but I did some interval and key changes. What sounded almost like random notes originally now sounds beautiful and song-like.

Recapitulation (Bars 83 - 124)
The recapitulation is introduced by demisemiquavers in both the right and left hands on the piano (notes D, C, Bb, A) which plunge into the tonic of G minor. The recapitulation usually mimics the exposition, but instead of the second subject modulating, it stays in the home key. This is what I have done. In bar 46 I have thematically developed melody no. 1. (bars 7 -- 13) From what almost sounded like random notes in the beginning, is transformed into something beautiful. Bar 110 deliberately has a straight crotchet so to give the clarinettist a chance to breathe. I have ended the piece on a ff G minor chord.


This sonata is not intended to be played by beginners. The piano has a lot of octaves in the right and left hands, and so a pianist with large hands that can reach this interval are needed. The clarinet has a lot of semiquaver runs, and so an agile clarinettist is required.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• classical
• Rudolf
• Ondrich
• Sonata
• in
• Minor
• for
• Pianoforte
• Piano
• and
• Clarinet
• QASMT
• QA
• Queensland
• Academy
• Science
• Mathematics
• Maths
• Technology
• mozpiano2
• music
• romantic
• sonata
• form

[Phusics]

A really nice piece! In bars 54-57 you quotes Shostakovich's famous DSCH-motif (D E flat C B) which represents (in a musical way) Shostakovich himself.

Was it your intention or happened it accidentally ?

[mozpiano2]

That quotation was deliberate yes, as I love Shostakovich so much!

[koreankid28]

can i get the music sheet to please??

thank you :]

[mozpiano2]

es, I am able to send the sheet music if you can send me your email address :)

[NaomieKeiko]

A really beautiful piece, rather addicting might I add :3 And it doesn't seem too hard, a bit high in places though it isn't something I'd feel comfortable playing I would LOVE to see the actual sheet music for it

[mozpiano2]

Yes, I am able to send the sheet music if you can send me your email address :)

[keago1000]

omg that was awesome can i get the sheet music for this please

[AwkwardYo]

@kirklyboy i disagree and agree. i dont think its just any old thing thats easy. but i think its something thats not impossible to paly, its still very moving. i love it, whoever played this has my automatic respect.

[kirklyboy]

At measure 82 the notes require a substantial embouchure change, but other than that nothing is to hard for a music major of professional to play. easily played a high schooler down an octave

[xixlovextoxlaughx]

pity you can't spell it very good.

[SaraJeans0]

i play the clareinet, very good.

[mozpiano2]

I cannot play the clarinet! Is this too hard for the instrument, I don't know. This is the computer playing it.

[nikkico101]

o wow i can play the clairnet but not THT good! thts amazing

[mozpiano2]

I think the part between 0.50 and 1.14 is extremely beautiful (especially the semiquaver run at 0.52 to 0.56), I must have been high when I wrote that bit!! I also love it from 2.12 to the recapitulation (3.20), the piano writing especially I love a lot!! I would love to see some of my YouTube pals to upload their compositions if they compose as well!!!!!!!

[mozpiano2]

Thanks for the nice words!! If I can find a clarinettist and a pianist willing to record it, then I will!! And if anyone watching this video wants to perform it and post it to YouTube, then please contact me!!

[MarkPMus]

This is a lovely piece, and I like following along to the music! Well done - you should have your pieces performed and post the videos on YouTube for us to see! Bravo!

[DeLesslin]

Sorry it took so long to respond! I like this alot. I love the thematic material and you are very adept at development. Keep up the great work, I can't wait to hear more. :-D