"Piano Sonatina" by Cheryl Shantz

The "Piano Sonatina" is an original composition by composer Cheryl Shantz. This piece was Cheryl's second composition, written in 1973 while attending The Royal Academy of Music in England. During the course of Cheryl's studies at the RAM, she grew increasingly enchanted by the beauty of folk music. Her compositions became a blend of folk and classical music, with a form incorporating the best elements of both. This folk/classical style can already be heard in the "Piano Sonatina," and it even found its way into her later compositions for full Orchestra. Cheryl believes that folk music is a gift from the past that can reveal its secrets and simple truths in these complicated and uncertain times. The "Piano Sonatina" has three movements. The first movement, "Allegro," has lively music in the spirit of a folk dance or jig. The second movement, "Andante," is suggestive of a dream-like slumber. And the third movement, "Allegretto," is frolicking and contrapuntal in style with images of storybook and mythological characters on this video.