The 'Dominican Sonatas
World premiere of two piano sonatas by Alexander Vella Gregory.
Sonata No. 7 'Meditation' (2021)
I - Saint Pius V & The Holy Rosary
II - Saint Albert the Great contemplating Wisdom
III - Saint Thomas Aquinas & the Nature of God
Sonata No. 8 'Transformations' (2023)
I - St Hyacinth & the Statue of the Virgin
II - St Raymond Peñafort's Cloak
III - St Vincent Ferrer's Tongue
Lumen Ecclesiae (St Dominic of Gusman)
Saturday 1st November at 19:30
Malta Society of Arts, Palazzo de la Salle
Republic Street, Valletta
Entrance to the concert is free, but donations in aid of the restoration of the 19th century statues by Carlo Darmanin currently being undertaken by Għaqda Festi Esterni San Duminku are welcome.
Programme Notes:
The 'Dominican Sonatas' project started off as a personal exploration of the piano sonata as a means of meditation and reflection. It has at its core the Dominican spirituality, inspired by the life and works of St Dominic of Guzman and his Order of Preachers founded in 1216. The whole cycle consists of four piano sonatas, with the two Sonatas on the programme forming the second and third instalments of the cycle. Each sonata consists of three movements, each of which explores the hagiography of a Dominican saint. At the end of each sonata is a fourth movement dedicated to St Dominic, the founder of the Order of Preachers.
Sonata No. 7 'Meditation' looks at the Dominican's contribution to theology and meditation. The first movement is a meditation on the Mysteries of the Holy Rosary, and Pope St Pius V's role in its promulgation. The second is a meditation on Wisdom and the figure of St Albert the Great, one of the great medieval theologians. The third movement then looks at St Thomas Aquinas and his monumental contribution to Catholic theology.
Sonata No. 8 'Transformations' exlores a different aspect of Faith - and that is the transformative power of faith. The first movement is dedicated to St Hyacinth of Poland who famously carried a stone statue of the Virgin Mary to safety during the Mongol siege of Kiev in 1240, carrying it 'as if it weighed no more than a feather'. The second movement looks at St Raymond of Penafort who used his cape and walking stick as a raft to sail away from Majorca to escape King James I of Aragon after repeatedly reproving him for having a mistress. The third movement then looks at St Vincent Ferrer's powerful preaching, which not only encouraged conversion, but was also understood by all regardless of their nationality.
Both piano sonatas are published by United Music Publishing Ltd, and are available for purchase.
Artwork: Rosaire Farrugia
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