Piano Sonata No. 4 in E minor, Op. 11 "Elegy"
Composed and Performed by: Arashk Azizi

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Tunitemusic record label proudly presents Elegy Sonata, a deeply moving work by contemporary composer Arashk Azizi. Rooted in Azizi’s signature Piano Poem form, this four-movement sonata explores the many emotional facets of death: the fear of its inevitability, the sorrow of mourning, the despair of loss, and the anger at our powerlessness in the face of mortality.

As Azizi reflects:

"The idea of the Elegy Sonata came to me after my father passed away. It was a devastating event that made me realize just how fragile and powerless we truly are against the inevitability of death."

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Elegy Sonata is, at its core, a meditation on death and its impact on the human spirit. Through carefully crafted variations of a central theme, Azizi paints an emotional journey through fear, mourning, and confrontation. The sonata is not merely a composition but a deeply personal narrative infused with symbolic elements that reflect Azizi’s own experience with loss.

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The sonata is not a linear narrative but a series of emotional vignettes that jump above and beneath the surface of grief. From the ticking clock that symbolizes the steps of death to the hopelessness of mourning and the catharsis of rage, it invites the listener into a raw and universal exploration of loss.

Throughout Elegy Sonata, Azizi includes deeply personal elements that connect the work to his own experiences. For example, in the second movement, Lament, the left-hand B note strikes 19 times after the main melody ends—a symbolic reference to the date of Azizi’s father’s passing on the 19th of August. Similarly, the inspiration for the opening movement, Epilogue, came directly from Chopin’s Prelude in E minor. Azizi was listening to this piece when he received the news of his father’s death, and the idea of writing an Epilogue, as opposed to a Prelude, immediately took shape in his mind. These personal touches add layers of intimacy and meaning to an already emotionally profound composition.

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At the core of the sonata lies Azizi’s innovative Piano Poem form, which blends the melodic intimacy of the Nocturne with the improvisational freedom of the Impromptu. Like a symphonic poem, the Piano Poem offers a narrative experience where a central theme undergoes transformation, guiding listeners on a journey of grief, memory, and catharsis.

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The Movements

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1. Epilogue
   The sonata begins with a somber and delicate prelude, Epilogue, reflecting the quiet sadness of an unexpected ending. This short yet poignant movement captures the stark finality of loss, with a left-hand figure reminiscent of Chopin’s Prelude in E minor. It is the beginning of a journey into the depths of grief.
    

2. Lament
   The second movement, Lament, transforms the Epilogue’s theme into a darker, more mournful variation. A persistent low B in the left hand represents the relentless ticking of time—each note a stark reminder of death’s approach and the anguish it leaves behind.
    

3. Remnant
   Drawing influence from Erik Satie, Remnant is melancholic and introspective. With its subtle modernist harmonies, it reflects on what remains after loss, like memories that linger in the air. It mourns not only what is gone but also what continues to exist in the wake of grief.
    

4. Tempest
   The final movement, Tempest, erupts in raw, unrelenting energy. Here, the emotions of sorrow transform into anger and despair. Built on a rhythmically complex 7-beat structure and enriched with contemporary harmonic progressions, Tempest revisits the sonata’s main theme in its most expressive and volatile form. It is a cathartic outpouring of emotion—a storm of sound and feeling that embodies the full tumult of grief.

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For listeners, the sonata is a universal reflection on the fragility of life and the inevitability of mortality. Its seamless fusion of traditional and contemporary influences—echoes of Chopin, Satie, and Azizi’s unique Piano Poem form—creates a work that is timeless, evocative, and profoundly expressive.

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With Piano Sonata No. 4 "Elegy", Arashk Azizi cements his reputation as a composer of extraordinary emotional depth and vision. This sonata offers a journey through the many faces of grief, speaking directly to the soul and leaving listeners with a deeper understanding of the complexities of life and loss.