Sonata No. 2 for Harpsichord: Harpsichord Book

A conversation between eras rather than a clash between them. The work pulses with unexpected rhythmic energy while maintaining the crystalline, intimate voice that makes harpsichord playing so rewarding. Each movement unfolds with character and purpose, refusing to drift into nostalgia.

Harpsichordists seeking contemporary solo literature that respects the instrument's heritage while expanding its expressive range. This sonata appeals to players comfortable with both baroque keyboard technique and rhythmic flexibility drawn from modern music idioms.

• Lean into the guitar-like passages in movements one and three by letting the plucked quality of the harpsichord echo the percussive attack of string instruments.
• Balance baroque ornamentation with modern syncopations by treating syncopated figures as rhythmically secure rather than affectedly swung.
• Shape the second movement's alternations between baroque and modern idioms through registration and articulation; use these contrasts to clarify McLean's structural design rather than smooth over them.

Feature this sonata on recitals that celebrate the harpsichord's contemporary relevance, or pair it with baroque and classical harpsichord works to frame how the instrument continues to evolve. The three-movement design makes it a substantial standalone offering without overwhelming a program.

• Integrating syncopated rhythms with baroque ornamentation
• Registering the harpsichord idiomatically across contrasting musical styles
• Responding to tonal ambiguity and modern harmonic language on a historical instrument
• Shaping extended single-movement forms across three linked movements