Sonata No. 2 (Victorine Sonata) for piano
Composer: Henrique Coe
Year of composition: 2021
Duration: approximately 18 minutes
Video: Excerpts from the World Premiere (30 July 2025)
Sala Martins Pena at the Teatro Nacional Claudio Santoro (Brasília, Brazil)
Piano: Pablo V Marques
Program note:
Sonata No. 2 or Victorine Sonata, for piano solo, was composed in 2021 and slightly revised after its premiere in 2025. The title Victorine is homage to the Victorine Fathers from the XI century, notably Hugh of Saint Victor and Richard of Saint Victor, as I had studied some of their writings not long before composing this sonata.
Divided into 3 movements, the piece has an overall duration of approximately 18 minutes. The first movement, Allegro meditativo, has a duration of approximately 7 minutes and is written in a sonata form. The first theme appears as long notes among quick arpeggios, while the second has a somewhat unmeasured character and is soon harmonized in the Medieval sonorities of parallel fifths and pedal notes. The ideas develop and are restated at the end.
The second movement, Andante cantabile, has a duration of approximately 5’30’’ and has a melodious character like a song. The tune and harmony were composed in 2006 and used as my final project in the Functional Harmony course at Conservatório de Música de Niterói. It was then adapted to piano for the sonata.
The third movement, Vivace, has a duration of approximately 5’30’’ and is written in a ABA’B’ form. The first theme appears serenely on the bass accompanied by a faster pattern above it and intertwined by runs. The second theme starts with a solemn character and is accompanied by runs below it, then it becomes more introspective. The piece ends in a joyful and hopeful way.
Victorine Sonata was premiered by Pablo Marquine on 30 July 2025. The premiere took place at Sala Martins Pena at the Teatro Nacional Claudio Santoro in Brasília, Brazil.