Roger Steptoe

Viola Sonata

Since 1977, when my Suite for Violoncello alone was awarded the BBC Young Composers' Prize, my passion for string instruments, their subtle sound and expressive possibilities, as well as the refined art of bowing, has always remained. The numerous works I have dedicated to them bear witness to this. Recently I have become particularly fond of the viola - the Sonatine 1 [BIM VA28] for viola alone, the Three Paul Verlaine Songs [BIM MCX79] for mezzo-soprano, viola and piano and the present Viola Sonata for viola and piano. Here I have developed a new structure. Although noticeably conceived in three movements, they are intended as a whole. A natural pause between the lyrical introductory movement and the energetic second would be desirable, but only a very short interruption between the second and third movements. My special thanks go to the distinguished British violist Sarah-Jane Bradley for her generous help in preparing the viola part and for her bowing suggestions. Roger Steptoe, January 2012, Uzerche, France