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Violin Sonata (2004)
ensemble violin and piano
written for Wells Andres
premièred April 29, 2005, New Haven, CT
One day in early 2004, I was sight-reading some Schubert piano sonatas. I began thinking how much I love to sight-read, but also that most of the repertoire that was feasible to sight-read was pretty old. “I’ll write a piece for sight-reading,” I said to myself, out loud. But how to accomplish this goal? Simple — use fewer notes.
Such was the conception of my Violin Sonata, which only uses up to three voices — one for the violin, one for each of the pianist’s hands. Besides Schubert, I was inspired by the economy evident in Prokofiev’s under-appreciated late works, and in Copland’s early piano music.
Violin Sonata is in three movements, and is dedicated to my brother, Wells.
Listen
Recorded 12/15/06 live in Sudler Hall at Yale University.
Mari-e Takahashi, violin; Timothy Andres, piano.