'"This is a substantial work" - Cello Sonata |
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My father was a Ukrainian who suffered at the hands of the Nazis in World War II. He was taken as forced labour, an Ostarbeiter, Eastern worker. Hitler's plan was to 'work them to death'. However, despite Hitler, my father survived the war and went to live freely in England where he met my mother. The Cello Sonata is dedicated to the memory of my father and it expresses my feelings about his time in Nazi Germany. The tune on harmonics that appears here is echoed in the later Viola Sonata and other works of mine too. Cello Sonatina no.1 in three movements, begins with a rhythmical driving pattern on piano over which the cello has an unhurried lyrical melody. The second movement marked Grave is a static movement whilst the final movement returns to untroubled times with a simple 'walking' theme on cello. Cello Sonatina no.2 also begins with piano in a driving rhythmic pattern against which the cello has a lyrical melody, which develops and underpins the whole work. 'Sephardic' sounding tunes abound. The slower second movement is one of the most intense works I have written to date. The finale is full of fun and mischievousness. Introduction and Allegro is for unaccompanied cello. Beneficent Beings is an early work for cello and piano in two sections.