Wednesday, October 30, 2024 12pm
11011 SW 104th St, Miami, FL 33176
Piano Sonata (2022) William Allaudin Mathieu
East Coast Premiere
Movement I (Segue)
Movement II (Pause)
Movement III (Rondo)
Piano Sonata 2022 by William Allaudin Mathieu
Fitting within the broad description of sonata allegro form, Mathieu created this work for pianists
who are equally comfortable in classical and improvisational styles. The musical narrative of this
sonata requires the pianist to connect composed passages with improvisational ones, and their
similarities and differences are part of the overall aesthetic.
While Mathieu’s eclectic range of musical styles and genres throughout this work includes a fusion
of Romantic, Classical, Baroque, Jazz, African Mbira and Avante Garde idioms, throughout this
expansive composition Mathieu’s musical voice remains ever present.
Owing to the improvisational content in this work, no two performances will ever be the same. Here
are a few notes about the individual movements.
Movement I
Of the three movements, the opening one most closely adheres to classical form, with the
development and restatement of main themes. The ending of this movement, which is improvised,
employs only two notes, then only one. The last note segues into the second movement.
Movement II
The lyrical middle movement relies most heavily upon the improvisational skills of the pianist. The
composer asks the performer to connect the through-composed passages in a convincing manner to the
improvisational sections. Especially challenging for the improvisor is the connection between the
composed beginning of the movement and the improvised ending.
Movement III
Subtitled “Rondo,” a recurring sequence of six tones is introduced at the beginning of this
movement and serves, along with its upside-down twin, as a thematic anchor throughout. Following a
stirring coda, the epilogue of the entire sonata concludes with four iterations of a peaceful hymn
to harmony.
Kirk Whipple (b. 1962) – pianist, composer, educator and arranger. He began his recording career in 1980, with his band,
“Whiplash.” In 1988 at a piano competition, Kirk met his lifelong partner in life and music, Marilyn Morales. They have recorded several albums together, for 1 piano/4 hands, 2 pianos and (with The UNPQ) 2 pianos / 8 hands. Together, Kirk and Marilyn have founded:
The United Nations Piano Quartet (The UNPQ),
The Unconservatory Festival Orchestra (The UFO),
The Unconservatory
Cranberry Coast Concerts.
Kirk’s catalogue of works includes compositions for solo piano, orchestra, chamber, piano and choral ensembles. His latest work for 2 pianos/8 hands, chorus, bass and percussion, Macabrifesto, premiered to critical acclaim in Miami, FL in March of 2024 with The UNPQ. Also of recent note was Kirk’s work on Always Remember, the musical about the Cuban-American experience by Marilyn Morales. Kirk was Marilyn’s arranger and musical director for this project, The world premiere, which took place on the 2022 Thanksgiving weekend was awarded “Best New Play or Musical” by BroadwayWorld over 15 other professional productions throughout South Florida. Kirk studied classical piano with Roy Bogas and John Browning, ragtime piano with Mark Wetch and African drumming with Kwaku Daddy. Of note to audiences attending these concerts in Northern California are Kirk’s teachers from childhood in Santa Rosa, Darlene Bradley and Frances Kelly. Kirk has known and worked with Allaudin Mathieu for 35 years. Their relationship has grown from that of student and teacher into colleagues.
William Allaudin Mathieu (b. 1937) – pianist, composer, author and educator – is one of the most influential musicians of his generation. In the 1960s, he spent several years as an arranger and composer for Stan Kenton and Duke Ellington Orchestras, and was the musical director for the Second City Theater in Chicago (which he helped found) and for the Committee Theater in San Francisco. In the 1970s, he served on the faculties of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and Mills College. In 1969 he founded the Sufi Choir, which he directed until 1982. He began recording solo piano albums in 1980. He has composed a variety of chamber pieces, choral works, and song cycles, and has written five books:
The Listening Book: Discovering Your Own Music (1991)
The Musical Life: Reflections on What It Is and How to Live It (1994)
Harmonic Experience: Tonal Harmony from Its Natural Origins to Its Modern Expression (1997)
Bridge of Waves: What Music Is and How Listening to It Changes the World (2010)
The Shrine Thief: Finding Wisdom in a Life in Music (2024)
He has studied with composers William Russo and Easley Blackwood, and collaborated with Nubian master Hamza El Din. Allaudin was a disciple of North Indian vocalist Pandit Pran Nath for 25 years. Allaudin now devotes himself to practice, performance, recording, composition, teaching, and writing from his home near Sebastopol, California. Allaudin Mathieu says, “Kirk Whipple and I are on a tear to encourage performers of written music to be adept at improvisation, and composers to encourage performers in this endeavor.”
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