Circe Invidiosa: Sonata No. 1 for the Piano Cover Image

Circe Invidiosa: Sonata No. 1 for the Piano: Piano Book & CD

$8.99 USD

Circe Invidiosa: Sonata No. 1 for the Piano: Piano Book & CD

Name: Circe Invidiosa: Sonata No. 1 for the Piano: Piano Book & CD
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-43961
Price: 8.99 USD
Availability: InStock

By Tom Gerou

Level: Advanced

Item: 00-43961

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English painter John William Waterhouse (1849--1917) worked in Pre-Raphaelite style, an artistic movement popular in the mid to late 19th century that emphasized bold colors, fine details, and compositional complexity. In 1892, Waterhouse completed Circe Invidiosa, the second of three depictions of Circe, the mythological Greek goddess of magic and sorcery.

Circe Invidiosa: Sonata No. 1 for the Piano is a one-movement sonata written in sonata-allegro form. The harmonic framework of the piece uses mediant relationships, ascending or descending progressions by 3rds, to support its contrasting themes. Rhythm plays a central role in this sonata. The unstable pulse throughout the piece, created by constantly changing meters, produces a toccata-like effect reminiscent of the maniacal Circe depicted by Waterhouse. The opening first theme is characterized by rapid, arpeggiated flourishes and a texture that requires the performer to play with interlocked hands. Two-hand arpeggios moving swiftly up the keyboard depict the swirling waters of Scylla's pool. A tender Andante con moto second theme is marked by increasingly sinister-sounding chromaticism. These two themes are manipulated in the development. Throughout the piece, short motives combine with intricate rhythms and sonorities to convey the introspection, internal conflict, and passion within Waterhouse's Circe Invidiosa.

This work was jointly commissioned by the Music Teachers National Association and North Dakota Music Teachers Association in 2014.

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Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 20

ISBN10: 1-4706-1842-7

ISBN13: 978-1-4706-1842-1

UPC: 038081493077

SKU: 00-43961

More about this title

About the Composer: Tom Gerou

Tom Gerou has established himself as a prolific voice in music education, having published over 160 works spanning compositions, arrangements, and instructional texts. His output reflects deep expertise across multiple disciplines: he authored the Essential Dictionary of Music Notation and Essential Dictionary of Orchestration, created the Premier Piano Course series, and crafted arrangements that have become foundational repertoire in piano studios nationwide. His arrangements appear throughout Alfred's Basic Piano Library collections, from Greatest Hits to Praise Hits and Top Hits.

Gerou holds a Bachelor of Music degree in composition from the University of Southern California and a Master of Music degree in composition from Yale University. His original compositions have earned recognition including two Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards for theatrical music, a Morton Gould Young Composer Award, two Rena Greenwald Awards, and a Jimmy McHugh Composition Prize. He has led workshops internationally across North America, Asia, and the Pacific region, and has recently received commissions from the Music Teachers National Association and North Dakota Music Teachers Association.

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Why we love this

Gerou anchors this sonata in a specific artistic vision: the Pre-Raphaelite painting becomes the structural and emotional core, not mere decoration. The constantly shifting meters feel genuinely unsettling rather than gimmicky, and they serve the narrative of Circe's chaos. Advanced pianists encounter a piece that demands both technical precision and interpretive depth, making it compelling for recitals and competitions alike.

What to expect

Circe Invidiosa conjures restless energy and inner turbulence. The opening explodes with quick, swirling arpeggios that suggest movement and magic, while the gentler second theme brings an almost hypnotic quality before sinister chromatic shifts reveal darker intention. Throughout, rhythm fragments and shifts beneath your hands, creating an unstable, dreamlike tension that mirrors the mythological figure's own contradictions.

Who it's for

Advanced pianists preparing repertoire for recitals, competitions, or festivals will find a substantial and rewarding challenge in this one-movement sonata. The piece demands technical facility with rapid passagework, rhythmic sophistication, and the interpretive maturity to convey a complex emotional narrative through purely instrumental means.

How to get the most out of it

Treat the meter changes as expressive tools rather than obstacles. The instability is intentional; let the shifting pulse create that toccata-like restlessness that characterizes the mythological enchantress.
Practice the interlocked hand passages slowly to establish clear independence between the hands before building speed. The arpeggiated flourishes need definition even when performed rapidly.
Shape the Andante con moto second theme with long phrasing that contrasts sharply with the opening's agitation. Allow the creeping chromaticism to sound increasingly unsettling as it develops.
Use the recorded accompaniment included with this edition to hear the composer's interpretation of tempo relationships and overall pacing, then develop your own approach based on that foundation.

How to use it

This work functions exceptionally well as a standalone recital centerpiece or festival showcase for advanced students, where its dramatic arc and technical demands command full attention. Its artistic connection to Pre-Raphaelite painting also opens opportunities for interdisciplinary programming, where it could pair with visual art presentations or other works inspired by classical mythology.