Richard Meale: Sonatina Pathetica (ca 1952) - 1. Molto moderato

Abstract

Like Don Banks' Sonatina, the manuscript of Richard Meale's Sonatina Patetica bears no exact date, but dates from circa 1952, during Meale's student days at the then New South Wales State Conservatorium of Music. Sitsky thinks he gave the first performance in a radio broadcast. Sonatina Patetica is an attempt to write a medium size work in a consistent mood and with strong thematic connections between the movements. Meale (b. 1932) was at that time imbued with the ideas of Hindemith, and there is a Hindemithian touch to much of the counterpoint and even the melodic construction. The writing is mostly sparse and linear.