Pitfield, Thomas - Sonata in A for Violin and Piano

Thomas Pitfield had a gift for memorable tunes, often couched in somewhat French-sounding harmonic and decorative idiom. He admired Vaughan Williams, Grainger and Delius and their influence can be felt in his works. His Violin Sonata in A is a well contrived set of cyclic variations in which the themes of the entire work are recapitulated in reverse order, imposed on a set of ordinary variations. There are thus two themes running simultaneously in each variation. Watch out for the Finale, which is decidedly novel after three movements more or less 'normal' in shape (if refreshingly personal)

Click title of piece to listen, via YouTube, played by Denis Simons on the album Thomas Pitfield: Chamber Music.

1. Allegretto Articulato

2. Ostinato (Andante Semplice)

3. Scherzo

4. Cyclic Variations