Sonatina

The Sonatina for cello and piano was composed in 2024 in Louisville, Kentucky. Beck wrote the type of piece he would have liked to have played when he was performing on the cello in middle school and high school. This composition has three movements, any one of which may be performed separately for recitals or for contest purposes. The first movement (Prelude) is marked "With determination" and is in an A-B-A form. The music is both dramatic and lyrical. The second movement (Adagio) begins with the solo cello playing a pensive melody; this melody becomes the basis for the movement, appearing in various harmonic and contrapuntal guises. The final movement (Toccata) is primarily centered in a lively D major area. Marked "preciso," the energic interplay and syncopation between the cello and piano bring the entire Sonatina to an exciting close.