Sonata for Violoncello and Piano
in homage to Claude Debussy

1986

13 minutes

March 13, 1988, New York City, Maxine Neuman, cello, Joan Stein, piano

Available on demo CD

1. Poco lento – tempo giusto
2. Elegia
3. Allegro
4. Con piena voce

“[The piece] was directly inspired by a recorded performance of the Debussy Sonata by Benjamin Britten and Mstislav Rostropovich, which I felt penetrated the music in new and wonderful ways. My musical language is very different from Debussy’s, but I sought to capture some of the textures and momentum of his sonata. The careful listener will find a brief quotation in the first movement.”

–Vivian Fine, note to the score

first movement

second movement

third and fourth movement