Sonatina (I. Allegretto II. Lento non troppo III. Vivo e leggiero) Kees van Baaren is a Dutch composer, pianist, and teacher. He is known as one of the important Dutch composers who employed twelve-tone and serial techniques after WWII. His works include orchestral, chamber, and other instrumental music. His Sonatina (1948) was written in memory of his teacher, Willem Pijper, after Pijper’s death. The first movement is short, but its opening theme appears three times in different forms, which makes the structure easy to recognize. It combines vertical melodies with horizontal melodic lines, and the strong contrast between staccato and legato gives the music a lively character. The second movement is the most calm of the three, and it seems to express a feeling of mourning for his teacher. At the end, the opening melodic idea returns. This movement also allows the listener to fully experience the unusual harmonies and sonorities of Van Baaren’s musical language. The third movement is fast, light, and energetic. Syncopations and accents help create its playful and lively character. Like the other movements, the opening theme returns near the end and brings the movement to a close. Each movement has its own clear character and atmosphere. For more, please see Ernst Vermeulen, “Kees van Baaren," in The Essential Guide to Dutch Music: 100 Composers and Their Work, edited by Jolande van der Klis. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press, 2000, 22–25.