Sonata

SKU: PR.114423350

ISBN 9781491135112. UPC: 680160686339.

This stunning addition to the bassoon repertory features dramatic outer movements framing a slow and plaintive aria. Harberg’s program notes put the drama and its crying-out high notes in the context of writing in 2021: “The composition was deeply influenced by disruptive forces unfolding around us. While this unrest made writing difficult at times and brought me to uncomfortable places within myself, the process was also full of unexpected discoveries and musical solutions I never would have found in less troubled times.”.
Connections are all around us. I first met bassoonist Adrian Morejon while writing my Suite for Wind Quintet for the Dorian Wind Quintet in 2017. He and I quickly became fast friends and decided to collaborate on a new piece. Over the next two years, Adrian assembled a phenomenal group of 28 bassoonists from around the world to be co-commissioners. Adrian and I premiered the resulting sonata at the International Double Reed Society’s 2021 Virtual Symposium.The SONATA was composed between January and June 2021. In composing it, my goal was to offer bassoonists a substantial work that would show off the instrument’s remarkable strengths including its athletic agility, gorgeous singing qualities, and enormous range. While I generally avoid being programmatic, this composition was deeply influenced by the disruptive forces unfolding around us. While this unrest made writing difficult at times and often brought me to uncomfortable places within myself, the process was also full of unexpected discoveries and musical solutions I never would have found in less troubled times.I am deeply grateful to Adrian for our collaboration, and to everyone in the consortium for making the SONATA possible.