Notes for Sonata No. 5 "A Kiss of Peace"
A Figural Presence
Sonata No.5
"The Kiss of Peace"
Op. 185
For Piano
By Dianne Goolkasian Rahbee
Commissioned by
SAINT ANSELM COLLEGE
Manchester, New Hampshire
This work is inspired by the following "Figural" Presences:
The message of the work is "Let there be Peace among men."
The " FIVE" MOTIVES to be aware of throughout the piece:
3. Various repetitions of chords five times. 1 2 3 4 5 "Why Must There Be War ? "
1. Beethoven Quote from the 5th Symphony Rhythmic figure ( …_ ) "Let There Be Peace"
2. ""Kiss of Peace" Chant from the Devine Liturgy of the Armenian Apostolic Church,
4. Deliberate repeated use of the interval of a Perfect Fifth both melodically and harmonically.
5. The deliberate use of the 5/4 time signature in the several places.
First Movement
Being the FIFTH Sonata written by this composer, the immediate association comes to mind
of the Beethoven "FIFTH" Symphony and the famous identifying motive ( … ____ )
Morse Code "V" for Victory. This musical motive of (dot dot dot dash) has been been
used by MANY composers before and after Beethoven, sometimes eliberately referring to
Beethoven and sometimes not. It is almost a natural musical "Figure of Speech"
In this Sonata, Dianne Goolkasian Rahbee has deliberately used the motive to inspire her
musical ideas.
Another musical "Figure" or "Motive" used in this Sonata is a chant taken from the Devine
Liturgy of the Armenian Apostolic Church, "The Kiss of Peace". written by Makar Ekmalian.
At a special point in the church service, one greets his neighbor on the right with a "kiss",
symbolizing love and peace for mankind. The sentiment behind this theme is powerful.
This beautiful Chant is also used by Goolkasian Rahbee in her Symphony No.1.
2nd Movement
The NUMBER 5 is itself a FIGURE and one of the strongest forces in the relationships of
western musical theory. The DOMINANT relationship based on the "Circle of Fifths" has
governed musical creativity for many years. The 2nd mvt. features the interval of a fifth.
The actual visual shape of the FIGURE 5 has a special and unique physical beauty all it's own.
It also inspires rhythmic associations throughout the music.
3rd and 4th Movements
One of the STRONGEST HUMAN MUSICAL FIGURES (personalities) among
Armenians is the legendary KOMITAS VARDAPET (1869-1935). He was orphaned as a
child and studied at Etchmiadzin and became a celibate priest of the Armenian Apostolic
Church. He studied ethnomusicology in Germany and collected a wealth of Armenian Folk
Tunes which he catalogued much the way that Bartok did with Hungarian folk music. These
have become a very valuable musical resource for scholars, composers and musicians.
Komitas experienced tremendous emotional pain as a result of the 1915 Armenian Genocide
and eventually was overcomed by madness and died in an aslum in France.
Dianne Goolkasian Rahbee, whose father was a survivor of the 1915 Genocide, has been affected
and influenced in many ways by the stories she was told about her ancestors.
Two of the most popular Armenian Folk Tunes are used in the 3rd and 4th mvts. of this Sonata:
" Garouna" and "Gakavi Yerke"
To quote Komitas :
"In Armenian folk music, metric accent and textural stress are
independent of one another. Therefore, these songs must be sung in accordance with the
meaning expressed by the words and in close adherence to the indications above the notes
and not according to the accent patterns of the meters in Western music".
3rd Movement
The Folk Tune used in the 3rd mvt., "Garoun a" (which means "Spring" in Armenian) by
Armenak Shahmuradian tells a very sad tale.
"Spring is here, yet it has snowed,
Oh! No, no, no…My lover is cool towards me.
Ah, my unfortunate beloved,
Cure on those evil tongues."
4th Movement
The 4th mvt. uses the Folk Tune "Song of the Partridge" "Gakavik Yerke"
The text is by Hovannes Toumanian
The sun shone through the dark clouds,.
And the partridge flew down from the green mountain,
From the summit of the green mountain,
It brought greetings from all the flowers.My lovely, beautiful little partridge.
Your wings are so soft and fluffy,
You have a little beak and tiny red feet,
You dance around with your little chicks.My lovely, beautiful little partridge.
5th Movement
This movement reflects on the material used in all the previous movements as if flashing
back subconsciously. It also makes reference to a work for 2 pianos and percussion by
Goolkasian Rahbee "Anahid's Musings" Op.147.
Abbreviated program notes
Most Sonatas have 3 or 4 movements and sometimes even one, but this Sonata has 5
movements to follow a unique "Figural Presence" of form.
Mvt. I. Maestoso with great emotional intensity
Motivic reference to Beethoven's 5th ( …_ ) "Let There Be Peace"and The "Kiss of Peace" Chant
Mvt. II. Scherzino "Allegretto"
With humorous contrasting character and meter in FIVE
Mvt. III. Armenian Folk Tune "Karoona " "Spring" "A Sad and Mournful Lament"
"Spring is here, yet it has snowed,
Oh! No, no, no…My lover is cool towards me.
Ah, my unfortunate beloved,
Cure on those evil tongues."
Mvt. IV. Armenian Folk Tune "Gakavi Yerke" "Song of the Partridge"
"Joyous and Uplifting"
The sun shone through the dark clouds,.
And the partridge flew down from the green mountain,
From the summit of the green mountain,
It brought greetings from all the flowers.My lovely, beautiful little partridge.
Your wings are so soft and fluffy,
You have a little beak and tiny red feet,
You dance around with your little chicks.My lovely, beautiful little partridge.
Mvt. V. "WHY MUST THERE BE WAR ? "
The FIFTH mvt. reflects back to the previous movements and
combines quotes from the various motives used throughout the Sonata.
The message of this Sonata is pleading for PEACE among human beings !
The finale message as it ends quietly states: " LET THERE BE PEACE" !