"Piano Sonata in F# Minor" is an exciting three-movement work by British composer Andrew Diggle and Polish composer Katarzyna Kempińska in 2024. The piece was the Platinum prize winner at the Saint-Saëns International Music Competition earlier this year, so it is getting some very well-deserved attention! I helped out with the proof-reading and have really enjoyed my time with this project!

The sonata was performed and recorded live by Xuanxin Chen at The Royal College of Music in South Kensington, London in January 2025. The recording is available to download and there is also a video on YouTube of the full performance, which is very impressive and an excellent reference while learning to play the sonata!

The sonata reflects a variety of styles and it isn't immediately apparent that it is a contemporary work. Some parts of it are rather challenging, but I would think most pianists at an early-advanced level would find the music very playable and enjoyable. It would be an excellent piece for advancing piano students to learn. The structure is classical, but the contemporary touches add a different dimension to the music - especially for piano students.

Briefly, the three movements are:

"1. Allegretto": Key of F# Minor (3 sharps) - 14 pages
The first movement is lively and multi-themed and feels very much like musical storytelling. Some of the themes are dynamic and dramatic while others are more delicate, giving the pianist plenty of room for expressive playing and interpretation.

"2. Rondo Andante": Keys of E Major (4 sharps), B Major (5 sharps), E Minor (1 sharp) - 6 1/2 pages
The second movement begins with a passage that makes me think of some of Mozart's light-hearted piano pieces. The second theme becomes darker and more powerful (a bit of Chopin's influence?) and then returns to the lighter mood. The shortest and easiest of the three movements, the varied themes are colorful and expressive as well as fun to play.

"3. Scherzo": Keys of F# Minor (3 sharps), F# Major (6 sharps), D Major (2 sharps) - 13 1/2 pages
The third movement is the most contemporary-sounding of the three, but is still very strongly classical. Often light and playful and sometimes just a bit mysterious, it's also varied and very expressive.

"Piano Sonata in F# Minor" is currently available to download from Bogus Breakfast (Andrew's website), www.SheetMusicDirect.com, and SheetMusicPlus.com. Very highly recommended!