Sonata for Violin, Horn and Piano

Instrumentation

violin, horn and piano

Other Information

This work was commissioned by the Brahms Trio Prague (Ondrej Vrabec, solo and principal horn, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra; Monika Vrabcova, violin; and Daniel Wiesner, piano), who gave the world premiere on February 5, 2008 in the Suk Hall of the Rudolfinum, Prague, with subsequent performances at the Villa Bertramka Mozart Museum, Prague (September 2008), the Martinu Hall, Prague (February 2009) and at the Town Theatre, Jablonec, Czech Republic (March 2009).  The Australian premiere was given by Bridget Graham, violin, Andrew Young, horn, and Lauren Simpkins, piano, at the Melba Hall, Melbourne, Australia on May 29th 2009.

The Brahms Trio Prague have recorded the work for CD, on the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra Artesmon Label.

´ ... a recording that deserves an international gramophone award... The three-movement work is thematically very tightly conceived... and has great emotional pull...  his sonata has a distinct creative poetry... ´ HARMONIE MAGAZINE, PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC (January 2008) 

´ This is modern tonal chamber music at its finest.  THE HORN CALL (journal of the International Horn Society, USA) (May 2008)

´... everyone who listens to this record will surely confirm that he (Downes) writes interesting music, which... alternates interestingly meditative sections with playful sections and is narrating something constantly and relaxedly, which gives a great space for the imagination of the interpreters.´  HUDEBNI ROZHLEDY MUSIC MAGAZINE (Czech Republic) (May 2008)

´...the music is crisp, transparent, well composed for the musicians, and moves between cantabile, tranquillo passages and contrasting rhythmical gymnastics.´   WWW.MUNDOCLASICO.COM (Spain) (May 2008)