Steven Franklin: Sonata-Fantasy for Violin and Piano

About the Composer: Steven Franklin

Steven Franklin is a contemporary composer and performer whose works span a variety of genres and settings. He has written music for solo instruments, chamber ensembles, and orchestras. Franklin’s compositions often blend lyrical expressiveness with intricate harmonic language, drawing on influences from both historical and modern musical traditions. His works are performed in recitals, competitions, and educational settings worldwide.

About Sonata-Fantasy

Sonata-Fantasy is an early work by Steven Franklin, originally composed for a friend’s graduation recital at the Curtis Institute of Music. The piece draws inspiration from composers such as Richard Strauss, César Franck, and Johannes Brahms. Although it retains the structural clarity of a sonata, it exists as a single-movement work, combining elements of sonata form with the free, whimsical qualities of a fantasy.

Musical Characteristics

The violin enters in the dominant key rather than the home key, introducing a capricious motive that recurs throughout the work. Frequent harmonic shifts create a dreamlike, daydream-like atmosphere. The piece requires careful attention to lyricism and expressive nuance. Performers should allow the music to breathe, employing subtle rubato and a warm, tender tone, particularly in the opening. The violin and piano should blend to highlight the work’s lyrical quality, letting each phrase sing and unfold naturally.

Performance Uses

Sonata-Fantasy is suitable for:

• Recitals – solo or chamber music programs

• Competitions – advanced violinists looking for expressive repertoire

• Educational purposes – study in violin and piano collaboration, interpretation, and lyrical playing

This work offers performers an opportunity to explore a single-movement composition that combines classical sonata influences with the imaginative and spontaneous qualities of a fantasy. Its lyrical and expressive nature makes it a compelling choice for both performers and audiences seeking intimate, expressive chamber music.

Listen to Mariè Rossano, violin and Changyong Shin, piano performing Steven Franklin’s Sonata-Fantasy for violin and piano at the Curtis Institute of Music in April 2017.