Sun Rising & Sun Going Down

Instrumentation

Solo Piano

Other Information

These two short pieces date from 2006. Describing them as "musical miniature pictures", the composer comments: "The sun does not go off and on like a switch, but takes time, and lots of different colours and rays of lights are visible during the process."

The two pieces were first performed Voice Box, Derby, on 13th April 2010 and repeated at Derby Cathedral 16th April 2010 [see the photograph below left] by Helen Cha, [pictured left and below right] a virtuoso pianist from Hong Kong. The works were also broadcast on Radio Derby between the two concerts. These two pieces were also performed on February 20th 2015 by Christina McMaster as part her concert for Derby Chamber Music in the Multi-Faith Centre at the University of Derby.

SUN RISING

Sun Rising is based on an ascending phrase, beginning in the right and left hands alternately, with increasinglt complex harmonies coming to the fore.

SUN GOING DOWN

The prominent in Sun Going Down is a rocking two-note figure set in the context of a slow, measured descent. The central part of the piece explores sonorities towards the lower end of the keyboard.

The photos on the left are of sunrise over Cascais Marina [Portugal] in September 2014 and sunset over the A46 in Leicestershire in November 2014. Both were taken by the editor.

Access to the pianists´ biographies can be accessed by clicking on their names: Helen Cha and Christina McMaster and video examples of their work can be found below. 

This is a video of Christina McMaster playing the third movement [The Alcotts] of Charles Ives´ Piano Sonata No. 2 ["Concord, Mass."] which was part of the second half of the Derby Chamber Music concert on 20th February 2015:

By clicking HERE you can access Helen Cha playing part [from 1´47"] of  Xian´s Yellow River Concerto in an extract from a concert in 2012.