Program Note:
The Sonata for Horn and Percussion is an abstract musical drama in four movements. The militaristic first movement, Allegro Maestoso opens with the piece’s generative four-note motive. The second movement is approached by segue, and is signaled by the air noise in the horn and coin scrape in the percussion. Entitled Volatile, this movement is a nightmarish response to the first. Diverse tempi and meter coupled with musical remnants from the first movement are intended to convey a sense of unreality. The lyrical Adagio third movement is also approached by segue, and is signaled by the entrance of the marimba. The Finale fourth movement is a triumphant synthesis of the first three movements.