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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
I. Moderato
Recorded 12/15/06 live in Sudler Hall at Yale University.
Mari-e Takahashi, violin; Timothy Andres, piano.