Cornerstone Sonata for Viola & Piano

Markovich’s Cornerstone Sonata, commissioned in 2020 and dedicated to viola virtuoso Brett Deubner, is a captivating programmatic composition. Inspired by the poem “The Bully and The Cornerstone,” the music vividly portrays the struggle and transformation of the central character—the cornerstone. 

As the piece unfolds, the stone cutters’ relentless chipping reverberates through the music, their voices alternating between mockery, anger, and desperate pleas for mercy. The listener is drawn into the emotional landscape, feeling the weight of rejection and sorrow carried by the destined cornerstone.

Yet, amidst this turmoil, a powerful force emerges—the Master Builder. With unwavering resolve, the Master Builder recognizes the hidden potential within the rejected stone. Against all odds, the cornerstone is chosen, elevated, and ultimately revealed as the best.

In the delicate interplay of notes and themes, we witness the resilience of the human spirit—the ability to rise above adversity, find purpose, and become something greater. Markovich’s Cornerstone Sonata invites us to reflect on our own journeys, celebrating the transformative power of choice and redemption. c. 20′