War Sonatas
Three piano sonatas by Michael Kieran Harvey, written as a response to twenty-first-century war. Spoken poems by Arjun von Caemmerer stand between the works, framing a triptych of anger, friendship and warning.
These three “war” sonatas were composed during the escalation of the 2014 war on Ukraine by Russia beginning on 24 February 2022, the largest attack on a European country since World War II. Many composers have answered the insanity of war with large works; a formidable piano example is Wolpe’s Battlepiece of 1943–4. Towards the end of this triptych’s completion, war in the Middle East flared again.
Three entities helped Harvey negotiate the period and the anger, despair and sorrow he felt for the innocent victims: Peter Singer’s writings, his friend and long-time collaborator Dr Arjun von Caemmerer, and his return to the study of philosophy.
Autonomous AI is on the horizon, driven by war as much as medicine. In this sonata the intuitive hallucinations in movement I are metaphors for the human sense of reality, obliterated by AI in movement II. Unlike other human self-destruction technologies like nuclear weapons, autonomous AI is unlikely to tolerate an off switch in the hands of its creators. It seems it is a technology, to paraphrase Dennett, currently on the horizon and best kept that way.
Reviews
Thoroughly engrossing! Congratulations on a stunning work, great performance and the whole production.
Behind these three piano sonatas, Michael Kieran Harvey centres on some major crises of our age which are essentially colossal failures of action and inaction ... thanks to the brave agitation and fearlessness of his music, we can follow the best stoic directive and say not the struggle naught availeth.
a tense, dramatic, hypnotic and deeply confronting musical experience.
Artists
Michael Kieran Harvey
Australian pianist and composer Dr Michael Kieran Harvey FAHA is among the foremost interpreters of contemporary piano music of his generation. A champion of Australian music, he regularly commissions new work and has performed with the country’s leading contemporary ensembles and orchestras.
Arjun von Caemmerer
Dr Arjun von Caemmerer is a Hobart-based general medical practitioner, Iyengar Yoga teacher and practitioner, and writer. In 1995, with Naomi Cameron, he established The Hobart School of Iyengar Yoga.
Audio previews
Tracks
- The Ire of Irina Arjun von Caemmerer :53
- Allegro giusto 18:33
- Onirico 2:17
- Ritmico 4:44
- Word War I: Not All Singers Sing from the Same Song-Book Arjun von Caemmerer 3:03
- Zappaesque 11:24
- Rubato 4:00
- Giusto Tempo 7:33
- Word War II: The Saṃgīta of Arjuna Arjun von Caemmerer 1:42
- i. Hallucinations 1-8 15:11
- ii. Hammered, relentless 6:52
- Word War III: Caught in the Cross-Hairs Arjun von Caemmerer 1:34
Piano Sonata #8 “P. Singer” Michael Kieran Harvey
Piano Sonata #9 “Sonata da Caemmerer” Michael Kieran Harvey
Sonata #10 “Riding with Death” Michael Kieran Harvey
Performers
- Michael Kieran Harvey · tracks 2–4, 6–8, 10 and 11
- Arjun von Caemmerer · spoken · tracks 1, 5, 9 and 12
Where to listen
War Sonatas is available for streaming through Spotify and Apple Music. It can also be purchased through the iTunes Music Store.
War Sonatas is available as a CD. It can be purchased online through Buywell Music or the Australian Music Centre which both offer online ordering.
Product details
- Catalogue number
- MD 3477
- List price
- $25.00 AUD
- Total playing time
- 77 minutes 46 seconds
- Recording Engineer
- Steven Grainger
- Editing Engineer
- Vaughan McAlley
- Mastering Engineer
- Martin Wright
- Venue
- Move Records Studio
- Release date
- 2 Apr 2025
- Musical work
copyright - © 2025 Move Records
- Sound recording
copyright - ℗ 2025 Move Records
- Categories
- Australian, Classical, Keyboard
- Genres
- Contemporary Classical, Spoken Word
- Barcode
- EAN 8721215059493
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