John Williamson
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Sonatina (2006)

Working through an early ambition to compose sonatas for all orchestral and other instruments, I wrote my first organ sonata which was published by Animus in 2004. Ronald Frost, late of the RNCM and organist of St Anne’s, Manchester, suggested suitable registrations for this work and subsequently recorded it on Dunelm Label. Having completed some twenty five duo-sonatas and seven piano sonatas, I then embarked on composing a series of sonatinas. The Organ Sonatina is in the traditional three contrasting movements, the first having two main ideas. The opening quaver figure is later developed on the pedals in the opposing key centre of F sharp. The second, slow movement, centred in F sharp, takes up an initial idea on the pedals, which then transfers to the manuals. The same figure is soon heard again in an inversion on pedals and manuals in turn before both figure and inversion are combined in consummation. The third movement, reverting back to the key centre C, has a more lively and rhythmical opening motive, shared by manuals and pedals, and develops to a rising climax. This alternates with a second, contrasting fanfare-like figure, the movement continuing antiphonally between the two ideas. The Sonatina has a strong palindromic chordal structure, epitomising my particular individual style in composition.

Listen to Mo Wah Chan giving the first performance of the Sonatina on 6th October 2007 at St Dominic's Priory

Duration: 16mins
Available from: Animus music publishing
Price: £5.00