Sonata

Liebermann's Sonata for Viola and Piano is motivically taut, muscled, and moody, with a quasi-Russian melodic sensibility that carries the piece from vigorous fast passages to ghostly recitative-like sections. From the New York Times: "…it is fresh, dramatic, and sometimes haunting music. Mr. Liebermann knows how to use repetition, how to vary a moto perpetuo, how to brood or ruminate without losing the listener’s attention." Gripping to listen to, and equally rewarding to play for both players, it makes a hefty and impressive addition to the recital program.