Piano Sonata by Charles Griffes
Charles T. Griffes (1884–1920) was an early twentieth-century American composer who wrote for piano, chamber ensembles, orchestra, and voice. His musical language is rich and varied, which creates contrasts and oppositions in his compositions. In developing his musical language, Griffes drew inspiration from Classical, Romantic, and Impressionistic music, as well as Exoticism and Russian music. In addition to the musical influences revealed in Griffes’s musical writing, there are extramusical ones as well, such as nature, painting, photography, theater, and poetry. Learning from different styles and fields, Griffes developed a musical language full of contrasts; however, reconciliations are also crucial in his music, making the musical structure unified, ingenious, and effective aesthetically.
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