Piano Sonata No. 1

composer:	Nancy Galbraith (1997)
genre:	solo piano
length:	3 movements, 15:30 minutes
movements:	1: Fugue   2: Religioso   3: Allegro
publisher:	Subito Music Publishing (ASCAP) 60 Depot Street, Verona, NJ 07044 mail@subitomusic.com • 973-857-3440
audio/video:
world premiere:	2 December 1998 Jocelyn Chapman Mellon Institute • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
program notes:	"Piano Sonata No. 1" begins with an animated Fugue, a restless internal dialog that twists and turns to triumphant resolve. The nearly motionless Religioso lingers in still, prayerful meditation, slowly arcs to an anguished ‘miserere’, then comes to rest in an emotionally spent, yet peaceful surrender. Allegro begins and ends in jubilant song and dance surrounding a serene, dreamy landscape.
composer's note:	The syncopated fugue subject of movement I is treated in a traditional manner in the opening and is transformed into a more lyrical statement in the development. The movement closes with a dramatic statement of the subject in octaves in the low register. Movement II begins with a simple chant-like melody which gradually becomes more intense and is finally stated with large cluster chords. The movement ends peacefully as it began. The sonata closes with a perpetual motion movement III, which makes use of minimalistic techniques. —N.G.
press bytes:	The Piano Sonata has been taken up by a number of fine pianists, and rightly so, as it presents a clear and cogent musical argument; energetic outer movements framing a slow movement of deep feeling and emotional depth. —Records International
	...a colorful piece with syncopated rhythms that explore the entire keyboard. —Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
	Her fugue is a lively affair, far removed from dry academics. How many fugues make you want to dance? —Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

recordings:		Nancy Galbraith: Atacama Albany Records • 2003 • TROY556 Patricia Prattis Jennings, piano
		Nancy Boston American Women: Modern Voices in Piano Music Oasis • 2006 • B000ICLS6U
source:	nancygalbraith.com

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