Sonata Hymnica No. 6

Sonata Hymnica No. 6, for piano ensemble, is part of the Sonata Hymnica Series by composer-pianist James Siddons. Sonata Hymnica No. 6 is the first in the series to be for piano ensemble, and the second (after No. 3) to be based on the worship music of the 19th-century African American church. This sixth sonata explores the singing world of the black congregation and choir as well as the church piano. In his classic book The Souls of Black Folk (Chicago, 1903), W. E. B. Du Bois confesses to not being a musician but nonetheless enthralled by the worship of Southern 19th-century African Americans. He refers to their singing as "the Frenzy or Shouting,' when the Spirit of the Lord passed by, and seizing the devotee, made him mad with supernatural joy . . . stamping, shrieking, and shouting, the rushing to and fro and waving of arms, the weeping and laughing, the vision and the trance" (p. 116). Elsewhere, Du Bois speaks of ". . . the songs of my fathers . . . [and] fresh young voices . . . swelling with song, instinct for life, tremendous treble and darkening bass" (p. 163). Performance Note Sonata Hymnica No. 6 is scored for two pianos and three performers. One performer (or, player) sits at Piano I and may also serve as the conductor. At Piano II, Performer 1 plays from the treble staff and Performer 2 plays from the bass staff. There are possible variations in this, such as having four pianos (two pianos doubling the other two), or having two performers at Piano I, with Performer 2 playing only the bass-staff rhythmic pattern that begins in measure 37. A standing conductor (not playing piano) may be desired.