HANUKAH
SONATA
by Stephanie Bennett
(Pedal Harp, Flute and Viola)
Instrumentation: Pedal Harp, C Flute (Alto
Flute in 2nd Mvt) and Viola
Level: Advanced
Includes: Score and separate parts for Harp, Flute and
Viola
About 7 minutes long.
The traditional holiday
tunes that we hear every year, and that we musicians play every year,
inspire me to experiment and innovate, to find new ways of interpreting
them which do justice to their timeless spirit and yet entertain by
offering a fresh and creative perspective. It was in this spirit that I
composed the Hanukah Sonata.
The piece is in three movements played without interruption. It is based
on three traditional Hanukah songs; the first and third are joyous and
fun songs of the "let's have a party and play with dreidls" variety, and
the second is a solemn and reverent blessing sung at the ceremonial
lighting of the candles in the evening.
The first movement is a set of variations on "Sevivon". From an
energetically disjointed introduction, it launches into a few dancelike
statements of the theme, with bouncy rhythms and jazz-age harmonies. A
moment later the style is suddenly Baroque, with canonically overlapping
statements of the theme by the three instruments, including a retrograde
treatment by the viola. There is a brief recapitulation with a send-off
of playful dissonance from the viola.
The reverent and dignified second movement (based on the melody of the
traditional "Blessing over the Candles") is warmed by melodies played on
alto flute, the low register of the viola, and rich chords on the harp.
The third movement is playful again, with the familiar "Hanukah O
Hanukah" reinvented in 7/8 meter. The harp plays with fun techniques
including notes doubled by enharmonic equivalents, grace-notes
"hammered-on" in imitation of guitar technique, and phrases of four
eighth notes juxtaposed against the seven eighth notes of the meter. The
ensemble builds to a melodramatic peak topped off by a dramatic harp
cadenza, then ends in a lighthearted mood with a sudden return to the
quick and playful 7/8.
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