Piano Sonata No. 3
I. Allegro Moro
II. Barcarolle in Blue and Whitewater
III. Bead Rock
Approx. Playing Times: I. 7' - II. 7'38'' - III. 5'18''
Total Playing Time: circa 19'56''
Composed, Revised and Edited by
ANA LEIRA CARNERO
Each movement may be performed as a stand-alone concert piece:
I. Allegro Moro: The title refers to the Spanish-Arab influence on this piece. But there's more... much more. It's a blend of jazz harmonies, Latin rhythms, bluesy motives, free counterpoint, virtuosity, evocations of Bach and Chopin, and of course the melodies with said Spanish-Arab flavour, all within an emotionally charged sonata-form of tremendous intensity. An explosive cocktail which is only possible because of the freedom of 21st century music. A powerful piece from beginning to end.
II. Barcarolle in Blue and Whitewater: The title is a play on words, and refers to the barcarolle as a musical genre, in which the music imitates the boat's movement over the quiet water of a river (the blue water). But this ship also navigates over the rapids (the whitewater). In fact, the Presto con euforia section seems a rafting experience. Moreover, "Blue" in the title also refers to the blues style and sad emotions, in the same way as the word was used for Rhapsody in Blue. The main sections are: Andante onirico - Poco meno mosso, quasi improvvisato - Presto con euforia - Tempo I.
III. Bead Rock: Bearing the tempo marking Veloce con veemenza (vehemently fast), Bead Rock is a tour de force that demands exceptional virtuosity and rhythmic precision. The title features a clever double meaning, functioning as a reference to a pearl-like spherical jewel and as an acronym for the piece’s foundational four-note motif: B–E–A–D. Written in a meticulously detailed academic style, the composition channels the vibrant energies of jazz, blues, and rock, evoking the syncopated brilliance of George Gershwin and Jelly Roll Morton, the fierce energy of rock pioneers Jerry Lee Lewis and Keith Emerson, and the intricate jazz-classical synthesis of Nikolai Kapustin. This relentless, driving momentum is humorously disrupted by an unexpected quote from J.S. Bach’s Italian Concerto, making Bead Rock a thrilling intersection of musical genres.
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