The inspiration for my Toccata was the pervasivedotted rhythm found in the third variation of thesecond movement of Beethoven’s Piano Sonata 32Opus 111, which commentators have described as aprecursor to swing music. Constructed in reversesonata form the opening dotted theme is made upentirely of major and minor thirds, implying an F-sharp minor/F-sharp major tonality. A contrastingmotif, repeated G-sharps, forms the second subject ontop of the persistent dotted rhythm. In thedevelopment section the main theme is presented incanon and soon leads to a thundering version of therepeated G-sharps, now in pounding octave bass withheavy right hand syncopation. The principle themebegins a series of transformations, expanding itsmajor/minor thirds to fourths, and fifths. After a shortinterlude marked Andante the “pounding theme” re-appears softly at first, heralding the recapitulation. Anew motif in “pushed” jazz rhythm leads to anaccelerando and extended re-statement of the“pounding” theme. The principle theme burststhrough in the bass, then in full two part counterpointbefore cascading downwards to an exuberantconclusion.Richard Blackford 2018
- ISMN: 9790708167112 (M708167112)
