• Contact terry@vosbein.com for performance materials

The sonata for cello and piano was written in the summer and fall of 1993. It is in three movements, treating the two instruments as equal partners, sharing the lead and accompaniment roles.

The first movement begins with the cello playing a misterioso theme in high harmonics while the piano provides an extremely soft low register pad. There is a cadenza-like passage for the cello early on. The momentum builds throughout the movement to a rousing conclusion.

The andante movement begins with the solo piano setting up a “floating” mood. The cello enters with a melody in its low register. Once again the momentum and dynamics build to the final measure, with brief respites along the way.

The final movement, marked vivace, starts with the cello and piano playing the theme in octaves. This is the most contrapuntal movement of the sonata, utilizing a variety of imitative techniques between the two instruments.

It is always a pleasure to compose a piece for friends. My cello sonata was written for Jesus Morales and David Riley, two very good friends of mine and two fine musicians.