In the second movement of his Violin Sonata, William Walton embraces non-strict serial procedures by using 12-tone rows almost throughout, while retaining his personal character.
Composer Biography
William Walton's Violin Sonata was written during emotionally uncertain months in 1948, following the death of his mistress and his subsequent proposal to Susana Gil Passo.
Performer Biography
Simon Callaghan, the pianist, is a Steinway Artist who performs internationally and is known for bringing rarely performed works to new audiences.
Historical Context
The legacy of the British violin sonata is a little over a century old, with its beginnings marked by the 1917 premiere of John Ireland's Second Violin Sonata and Edward Elgar's Sonata in E minor.
Performer Biography
Clare Howick, the violinist on this album, has had her recordings praised with "Editor's Choice" awards from Gramophone and Classical Music magazine, and was a "Recommended Recording" on BBC Radio 3.
Recording & Production
This album features the first recordings of Gordon Jacob's Elegy, Caprice, and Little Dancer, as well as Kenneth Leighton's Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 1.
Compositional Technique
Walton's Violin Sonata uniquely insists on the harmony of the augmented sixth and its derivatives, creating a constant sense of nervous uncertainty.
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