14.
ANDREW DOWNES PUBLISHED
WORKS
INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLE Pianos
SONATA FOR TWO PIANOS 'The Lord will be a Refuge for
the Oppressed; a Refuge in times of trouble' Opus 40 (1987) 20'
View
Score
Specially commissioned by Joseph Weingarten and Margaret Newman for their
concerts in aid of the Interdenominational Society for Russian Jewry. First
performed by them on July l2th 1987 in the Sir Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham. Numerous performances of
this work have since taken place. The Sonata was first performed
in Israel by Bracha Eden and Alexander Tamir in January 1989 in
the Israel Philharmonic Guest House, Tel Aviv, in a concert with
members of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, celebrating the
return to Israel of the Refusnik, Elena Keiss-Kuna. The work was
broadcast on BBC Radio 3 by Bracha Eden and Alexander Tamir in
1990, as part of a broadcast recital which they gave in the
Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham. The Duo Scaramouche have played
the work at several venues throughout Europe, including the Salle
des Arts, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Paris; on French
Radio - 'France Musique'; and on Italian Television in a full
length programme featuring an interview with the composer. Julian Hellaby and
Peter Noke performed the work in the recital hall of Coventry University in
November 2005, and recorded it for CD in 2006. Margaret Newman and Duncan
Honeybourne performed the Sonata as part of the 150th anniversary concert of
Singers Hill Synagogue, Birmingham, in June 2006.
'Downes has taken Psalm verses as his inspiration for a
deeply felt lament. The music, with its use of Jewish religious
musical idioms, is beautifully written. There is poignancy, great
dramatic tension and an overwhelming tenderness...'
THE BIRMINGHAM POST
SONATA FOR EIGHT PIANISTS PLAYING FOUR PIANOS Opus 76 (1999)
25'
View Score
(3 movements)
Composed for an international group of pianists for concerts in
celebration of the millennium. First performed on 4 Steinway
grand pianos at a special millennium event at Birmingham
Conservatoire on 6th December 2000. The first Italian performance
took place in The Conservatorio di Musica "Nicolo Paganini"
of Genoa on 21st July 2002. Malcolm Wilson, Paola Biondi, Debora
Brunialti and the Duo Scaramouche, who played in both premieres,
were joined by Mark Lockett, Cecile Deneau and Laure Pinsmail in
the British premiere, and by Philip Martin, Gisela Herb and Naoko
Shibayama Aarnio in Genoa. At both performances the pianists were
conducted by Neil Aston.
'As with much of Downes' music, the Sonata is a combination
of large-scale gesture and delicate rumination. It exploits its
resources effectively, layering texture and sonority with great
imagination.'
THE BIRMINGHAM POST
CONCERTO FOR TWO PIANOS AND
STRINGS See Solo
Instruments with Orchestra Page 13
FIVE MOVEMENTS FOR PIANO AND STRING ORCHESTRA See Solo Instruments with Orchestra P.13
FIVE MOVEMENTS FOR PIANO QUARTET See Arrangements Page 24
LOST LOVE - piano, flute, cello, soprano voice - See under Song Cycles Page 3
Piano duet with string orchestra, percussion and SATB chorus
-
see A SAINT LUKE PASSION Page
6