Rădulescu’s Piano Sonata 6

Array music pianist Stephen Clarke performs the North American premiere of Horațiu Rădulescu’s Piano Sonata 6 op.110 “return to the source of light”

Sixth Piano Sonata op.110 “return to the source of light” (2007) by Horatiu Radulescu
Movement i: I use your own light | Movement ii: II kalotrope of the Eternal
The Sixth Piano Sonata was written for the British pianist Ian Pace and commissioned by the Transit Festival Leuven and the International Lucero Foundation Montreux. It is Radulescu’s final composition. The first movement presents a drone-like ostinato, creating the spectral “canvas” for what follows. Two melodies in the Romanian folk tradition are stated, the first in a Bb minor mode, the second in a Bb major mode. The melodies are first heard individually in canons of augmentation and diminution, then simultaneously. This process of superimposition continues that of the Fifth Sonata (2003) though here it is taken to a further degree. The second movement presents a rhythmic cycle of block sonorities with terraced dynamics. Its material and general momentum are similar to the finale of Radulescu’s Piano Concerto (1996). – Stephen Clarke
* This performance of the Sixth Sonata is the North American premiere.

Array pianist Stephen Clarke has performed in festivals in Europe,Canada, the U.S. and South America, including the Donaueschinger Musiktage and the Berliner Festwochen. He has appeared as soloist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic New Music Group, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, New Music Concerts (Toronto), the Orchestra of the S.E.M. Ensemble and the Merce Cunningham Dance Company. In July, 2011, Stephen played at the Museo Casa Scelsi in Rome, Italy, at the invitation of the Fondazione Scelci. He also plays in a duo with violinist Marc Sabat, has worked with a number of ensembles and has been the pianist with Arraymusic for many years. Solo recordings include first recordings of works by Giacinto Scelsi (Mode Records), Udo Kasemets (hatHut) and Marc Sabat (World Edition). Recordings with Marc Sabat include the complete music for violin and piano by James Tenney (hatHut), Morton Feldman and Christian Wolff (Mode), as well as Maria de Alvear (World Edition). Stephen studied composition at the University of Toronto and has written works for various ensembles.