Stuart Greenbaum, Piano Sonata No.3 - Life in Light-years (2023)

Melbourne pianist Georgina Lewis presents Stuart Greenbaum’s epic, hour-long Piano Sonata No.3 – Life in Light-years. An arc of life traversing a tapestry of human emotion and endeavour in time and distance, the work unfolds in one continuous movement.

“wonderfully engrossing…vast… brilliantly illuminating” – The Age “immersed in timelessness…luminescent…rewarding” – Classic Melbourne.

Completed while Greenbaum was in residence at the Akiyoshidai International Art Village in Japan in 2023, the work premiered at the 2025 Peninsula Summer Music Festival. Greenbaum and Lewis share an extensive engagement with the great minimal works of our time and come together in this unique project to push the boundaries of how minimalism can be redefined in the new Millennium.

A light-year is not a span of time, it’s a distance: 5.88 trillion miles. A distance so vast it is hard to imagine. But as we have become increasingly aware of the fragile state of the Earth’s atmosphere and climate, it’s natural enough to wonder if there’s anywhere out there in the Universe that could support life if we had to abandon our own planet. And these possibly Earth-like planets are apparently at least 4 light-years away. The prospect of humans travelling that far is currently science fiction – conjuring cryogenically frozen journeys through space. Maybe at some point in the future that could be possible. But the scenario affords some perspective in considering our mortal terrestrial lives against the vast expanse and age of the Universe and trying to find some personal meaning in that.

Recognised for her thoughtful programming and ‘unfiltered’ musicality, pianist Georgina Lewis has gained a reputation for her sensitive performances and distinct approach to curation, which focuses on minimalism and contemporary Australian music. Stuart Greenbaum’s sound has overt connections to jazz, pop and minimalism but is equally grounded in the Western art music tradition. Having studied composition with Broadstock and Conyngham at the University of Melbourne, Greenbaum holds a position at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music as Professor, having also served as Head of Composition from 2007 to 2023. He is the author of over 235 works including 26 sonatas, 8 string quartets, 5 piano trios, 7 concertos, 6 symphonies and 2 operas. Stuart Greenbaum is published by Wise Music G. Schirmer Australia.

Image credit: Stuart Greenbaum and Georgina Lewis, 2024. Image by Darren James

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