New Release! Sierra Violin Sonata
- emilykalish
- May 5
- 2 min read
Updated: May 7
This past fall, Kyle and I spent a lot of time rehearsing and performing our duo program "For The Beauty Of The Earth", which included Roberto Sierra's Sonata para violín y piano. This sonata was the one piece on our program that was not explicitly "about" nature, but we included it because when we first heard the first movement (at the time, the only movement that had been recorded), we imagined swirling wind, flowing water, all of the rich tapestry of colors and textures found in the natural world. Of all the pieces we've been performing lately, we knew this was one that we wanted to bring to the recording studio.
In March, we finally recorded it, working with the wonderful engineer Jeremy Tressler of Dreamflower Acoustic in Bronxville, NY. In the recording studio, there is a level of quiet and focus that is hard to achieve out in the real world. You hear things more clearly. Things that might have been glossed over before, reveal themselves. It was a deeply rewarding experience, and I'm so happy to share the results today.
The first movement combines lush lyricism with swirling, virtuosic passages. In this movement (as well as the 2nd) the composer sometimes asks for ponticello, a kind of glassy, spooky effect created by bowing lightly, very near to the bridge.
The second movement is a fast "scherzo" movement, quick-moving and full of sparkling detail and texture.
The third movement has a mysterious, evocative, exotic quality to it. I find it hauntingly beautiful.
The finale plays with Latin rhythms in ways that range from playful to maddeningly complex to incredibly exciting!
I hope you find this music meaningful and enjoyable, and that you are inspired to check out the composer's other amazing works! Our recording is available on all streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, Itunes, etc.) or if you're feeling generous, please head over to Bandcamp to support. Happy listening!
Absolutely enchanting, Emily and Kyle. Congratulations on bringing Roberto Sierra’s sonata to life!