12.
ANDREW DOWNES PUBLISHED WORKS
SOLO INSTRUMENTS WITH PIANO
ACCOMPANIMENT :-
violin & piano; viola
& piano; cello & piano; piccolo & piano; flute & piano;
contrabass flute and piano; oboe & piano; clarinet & piano; horn &
piano; violin, horn & piano
SONATA FOR VIOLIN AND PIANO Opus 52 (1994) 25'
View
Score
Specially composed for a concert dedicated to the memory of Ernest Element,
given on 3rd May 1994 in
the Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham, by the Kingsdown Duo - Roger Huckle, violin,
and John Bishop, piano.
First Indian performance by John Mayer accompanied by Gillian Mayer at the
Calcutta School of Music,
also in 1994.
Numerous subsequent performances by the above artists and others, including
Alla Sharova with Gillian Mayer, Erich
Gruenberg with Daniel Adni, James Coles with Yoko Arai, David Chadwick with
Robert Markham and Robert Birchall, and many by the composer's daughters, Anna
and Paula.
First movement recorded for Central Composers' Alliance CD by Anna Downes with
Duncan Honeybourne in February 2001. Whole Sonata performed by these same
artists on l lth May 2001 in Birmingham Cathedral.
'... Echoes of plainchant in an ostinato like opening provided the springboard
for an Allegro of
developing rhythmic complexity and melodic richness which drew to a close with
effective lyrical
naivety.
'A more sombre Largo was again carefully and convincingly shaped by the Duo,
with its haunting melodic
lines.
'The finale skilfully entwined reflective mood with rhythmic dynamism. This is
a purposefully accessible
work whose consistency of style and sense of atmosphere ensured its warm
reception.'
THE BIRMINGHAM POST
POEME: 'THE GOD MARDUK' FOR VIOLIN & PIANO Opus 72 (1999) 6'
View
Score
Composed for the Russian violinist, Alla Sharova, for her concerts with
pianist, Gillian Mayer, as a result of their performances of the Sonata for
Violin and Piano (see above) and the Piano Quartet (see Arrangements of Andrew
Downes' Music - page 23).
Their first performance took place at the Voices Chamber Ensemble concert at
St. John's Church, Fulham, London on 18th September 1999. Also performed by the
composer's daughters, Anna and Paula at several venues in Worcestershire and
the West Midlands
The God Marduk was the ancient Babylonian God. The music sums up the awe
inspiring aspect of an
ancient mythical God and also the playful nature he was said to have.
SONATA FOR VIOLA AND PIANO Opus 68 (1998) 25'
Transcription by Cynthia Downes of the Sonata for Horn and Piano (see below)
for violist Phillip
Houghton and his accompanist Jasmina Kulaglich.
SONATA FOR CELLO AND PIANO Opus 86 (2001) 21'
First performed by Sharon McKinley, accompanied by Duncan Honeybourne, on 23rd April 2004, at the Birmingham Conservatoire Music Xtra Festival, in the Adrian Boult Hall. Subsequently performed by Janet Lindsay with Matt Davies (3rd movement) in the Great Hall of Oldswinford Hospital School, Stourbridge (2006), and by Rosalie Curlett with Duncan Honeybourne (complete work) at St Mary’s Church, Weymouth, Dorset in October 2012.
‘... contrast (fierceness/lyricism, delicacy/drama) was explored through often ritualistic instrumental exchanges, generating a succession of evolving episodes. Pianist, Duncan Honeybourne... and cellist Sharon McKinley’s... pensive and tender dialogue in the third movement and the cello’s simple and dignified theme in the second delivered real emotional warmth.’ BIRMINGHAM POST
SONATA FOR DOUBLE BASS AND PIANO Opus 90 (2006) 20'
This sonata was composed for David Daly (Principal Double Bass, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra) and his accompanist, Duncan Honeybourne, who gave the first performance at Christchurch Priory on June 14th 2007 as part of the Christchurch Music Festival. Subsequent performances have taken place at Montpellier Hall, United Reformed Church, Cheltenham, in August 2007; at Marlborough College (second movement) in May 2008; and at Sarum College, Salisbury, in November 2008.
SONATA FOR PICCOLO & PIANO Op. 74 (2000) 20' View Score
Composed for Keith Bragg, Principal Piccolo and Chairman of the Philharmonia
Orchestra.
The first performance took place on 2nd August 2000 at the Town Hall,
Stratford-upon-Avon, as part of the Stratford-upon-Avon International Flute
Festival. Keith Bragg was accompanied by Judith Keaney. Their second
performance took place on 24th October 2000 in the Recital Hall of Birmingham Conservatoire.
SONATA FOR FLUTE AND PIANO Opus 67 (1998) 25' View
Score
Specially composed for Carol Kniebusch Noe and first performed by Carol with
her accompanist, Vicky Berneking in the American Cathedral, Paris, on 4th November
1999.Their second performance took place on 31st March 2000 in the Wilson
Auditorium, James Madison University, Virginia USA.
Performed by Michael Jordan, accompanied by Thomas Stumpf, on 6th April 2000,
in Lexington, Boston, USA; by Andrew Anson with Alan Cuckston on 13th February
2002 in the Recital Hall of Birmingham Conservatoire; and by Andrew Anson with
Alistair Lilley in St.John’s Smith Square, London, in January 2004, and at
Birmingham Conservatoire on October 20th 2004.
SONATA FOR CONTRABASS FLUTE AND PIANO Opus 99 (2008) 22'
Commissioned by the American flutist Peter Sheridan, this sonata was given
its world premiere by Peter Sheridan accompanied by Claire Cooper on Thursday
April 22nd 2009 at Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Peter Sheridan, accompanied by
Richard Shaw, gave the UK premiere
of this work at the British Flute Society 7th National Convention at the Royal
Northern College of Music, Manchester, on August 19th 2010. Peter has performed
the work on numerous occasions on his recital tours around the world.
IN THE GARDENS OF BURDWAN - SONATA FOR OBOE & PIANO Opus 55 (1994) 20'
View
Score
This Sonata for Oboe and Piano was composed for George Caird, for first
performance with accompanist, Malcolm Wilson, at the Birmingham and Midland Institute on 20th October
1995.
The work was written during the months following the composer's visit to the
beautiful gardens of the
University of Burdwan in Bengal, India, and represents the composer's emotional
response to this part of
India.
George Caird and Malcolm Wilson recorded this work for CD entitled 20th
Century Music for Oboe and Piano in January 1999 (Classical Recording
Company: CRC 1009-2). To purchase the CD, click here
The USA premiere was given by Marc Fink (oboe) and Todd Wellbourne (piano) in Wisconsin, January 2009, and these players gave the first broadcast performance on WPR Wisconsin in April 2009. The CD performance by George Caird and Malcolm Wilson was broadcast on Rhubarbradio.com in June 2011.
Many performances of this work have taken place, in the UK, Europe and the
USA, notably one by George Caird and Duncan Honeybourne in a concert of Music
by Andrew Downes, on June 21st 2005 in the Adrian Boult Hall Birmingham, to
mark the composer's retirement from Birmingham Conservatoire, and a performance
by Christopher Redgate (oboe) and Malcolm Wilson (piano) at the composer's 60th
birthday concert at Birmingham Conservatoire on November 29th 2010.
'... a substantial 4 movement Idyll, its sounds, as in all this approachable
composers' output, genuinely imagined. Its combination of Indian inspiration
and ecclesiastical modality proved
magical.' BIRMINGHAM POST (21.10.95)
' In Downes' fantastic 1995 sonata In the Gardens of Burdwan, George Caird's oboe swung from raucous Indian piping to limpid English pastels exactly as this ravishing score demanded.' BIRMINGHAM POST (23.06.05)
Recorded
samples of Andrew Downes' music and how to order CDs and videos
SONATA FOR CLARINET AND PIANO Opus 100 (2009) 21'
This Sonata in 4 movements was specially composed for Angus Meryon, clarinet, and Duncan Honeybourne, piano, who gave the first performance in the United Reformed Church, Salisbury, as part of the Salisbury Chamber Music Club series, on 2nd January 2010.
SONATA FOR HORN AND PIANO Opus 68 (1998) 25' View
Score
Commissioned by Roland Horvath of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, and first
performed by James Lowe with Anne Madison in the Theresianische Akademie,
Vienna, on 17th March 2001, with subsequent performances at a Hauskonzert bei
Familie Horvath in Vienna (June 2001); at the Osterreichische Gesellschaft fur Musik,
Vienna (December 2001); in the Recital Hall of Birmingham Conservatoire (April
2002); and the last movement in Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Omaha, Nebraska,
USA (August 2002) and at the Haus der Komponisten, Vienna (June 2004).
Ondrej Vrabec (Principal Horn Czech Philharmonic Orchestra) with pianist Daniel
Wiesner, performed the complete work in a recital at the Villa Bertramka Mozart
Museum, Prague, in September 2008. In October 2011, the Sonata was
performed at the University of Tasmania Conservatorium of Music, Australia, by
Robert Stonestreet (horn) and Amander Hodder (piano). Also in October
2011, a performance of the Sonata was given by Joe Boyd (horn) in a National
Youth Orchestra of Scotland Futures concert, as part of the North East Scotland
Festival of New Music.
James Lowe and Anne Madison recorded the Sonata for CD entitled Schlosskonzert in March 2001 (This CD also includes Andrew Downes Suite for 6 Horns) see Discography. To purchase the CD, click here
This work has been transcribed by Cynthia Downes for Viola and Piano for Phillip Houghton and his accompanist, Jasmina Kulaglich.
SONATA FOR VIOLIN, HORN AND PIANO Opus 93 (2007)
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 5th 2008 in the Suk Hall of the Rudolfinum, Prague, with subsequent performances at venues such as the Villa Bertramka Mozart Museum, Prague (September 2008), the Martinu Hall, Prague (February 2009), the Town Theatre, Jablonec, Czech Republic (March 2009), and the Philharmonic Hall, Lviv, Ukraine (October 2011).
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 USA premiere was given by Paul Sonner, violin, Julie Schleif, horn, and Steve Larson, piano, at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Petoskey, Michigan, USA on February 17th 2013.
The Brahms Trio Prague have recorded the work for CD, on the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra Artesmon Label. Broadcasters of the CD have included Czech Radio, Rhubarbradio.com and Musicians Page Radio, Los Angeles, USA. To purchase the CD, click here
To hear this recording on YouTube, click: movement 1 movement 2 movement 3
' ... 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)
See Review at Musicweb International