The Joy Sonatina by Andrew J. Young
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
I'm so excited to share a short Sonatina I've created recently exploring ways to understand joy: elation, bewailing and delight. Webster's Dictionary delineates joy as:
a feeling of great happiness or pleasure
the expression or exhibition of such emotion
While composing the short Sonatina, I felt an energy over all three movements, each one page long, 16 measures. Each movement explores ways to express delight, elation and even grieving/bewailing over joy. You, your students could play all three movements for a studio event, maybe peform one of the movements, or have 3 students each play one of the movements. You can decide.
Here is the entire Sonatina score:
Joyful Sound (Exploring Delight) is a light, eligent selection written the key of F Major, yet almost sounds like Bb Major, as I incorporate Eb. The dynamic are mf for most of the piece, yet one line is mp. This is a regal entrance to the beginning of the Sonatina. Here is just the first movement:
Grieving Joy (Bewailing), written in the Key of Eb minor, explores how to find joy in the midst of grief, the feelings of bewailing. The composition all written in the Treble Clef begins with Eb and F minor scales ascending and descending scales broken up with both hands. The middle section incorporates mostly major block, rolled chords. The song is very delicate with pp, p and one measure increases to f. The ending is haunting and eerie. This is designed for Later Intermediate, yet honestly you could teach by rote to a Late Elementary. Here is the second movement:
OverJoyed (Elation) was referred to as a "doo wop" feel, in the key of B Major. This last section of the Sonatina is filled with hype and energy that your Intermediate to Advanced students will "pound" out the elation in this chordal selection. The ending is definitely my favorite. Here is just the third movement:
I truly hope you enjoy this selection. Please let me know what you think, as this is my first Sonatina I've ever created. What you are composing that speaks to you so well? Please share. Thanks for your support. Blessings.
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