Sonata No. 9 for Flute and Piano

Gary Schocker: Sonata No. 9 for Flute and Piano was written in 2014. This is a four-movement work with a deeply personal context. While earlier numbered sonatas followed a "Birthday" tradition, this piece was composed as a memorial for Gary Schocker's brother, resulting in a more "serious yet tender" character. Rather than the playful puns or seasonal imagery of the previous works, he uses Italian directives that establish a deeply emotional, commemorative tone.
1. Affettuoso (Affectionate/Tender): This sets the emotional stage for the memorial. It avoids the "jittery" openings of his other sonatas, focusing instead on a warm, loving dialogue.
2. Arioso (Vocal/Melodious): The term Arioso indicates a style between a recitative and an aria. It is a "song without words" that allows the flute to mimic a human voice in mourning. It is the most introspective section of the piece.
3. Marziale (Martial/March-like): This is a rare stylistic choice for Schocker. A "martial" movement often represents a sense of discipline, life's struggles, or a funeral march. It provides a rhythmic, grounded contrast to the fluid lyricism of the first two movements.
4. Ondeggiando (Swaying/Undulating): Literally "like waves," this title describes a repetitive, swaying motion in the phrasing. In the context of a memorial, this often symbolizes resolution, the passing of time, or the "ebbs and flows" of grief.
2014 was a year of intense recording and reflection for Schocker. While he was preparing the Inside Out album (released in 2015), he was moving away from the "jittery" coffee-themed movements of his previous sonatas. Sonata No. 9 reflects a serene and organic aesthetic.