Gillie, Gina - Sonata for Horn

Sonata for Horn and Piano was written in January 2018 on a commission from Steven Cohen for his commissioning project, American Sounds, and subsequent album, Steven Cohen: Cruise Control. The first movement of the work is an exercise in writing a fairly straightforward sonata-allegro form in a German Romantic style. The opening is similar to Richard Strauss’ first Horn Concerto in that it begins with a triumphant ascending arpeggio which then works its way down two octaves. In the following two movements, the first theme from the exposition undergoes a thematic transformation using two contrasting national flavours. The second movement is a singing mélodie in the style of Gounod. The ABA form features an undulating 12/8 meter which sweeps the song ever forward. The third movement presents the transformed theme in a rondo with grooving Afro-Cuban rhythms. The music challenges the dexterity of the players with fast-moving scales and athletic arpeggios. Sections switch between major and minor keys, and the piano and horn trade the melody back and forth before culminating in a final triumphant celebration. The work received its premiere performance at the Northwest Horn Symposium 2018 held at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA.

Performance time:  

• Mvt 1 - Allegro moderato approx 7:00
• Mvt 2 - Melodie approx 7:15
• Mvt 3 -  Rondo approx 4:00

Appropriate for recitals and chamber settings.