David Conte

Sonata

Sonata for French Horn and Piano is cast in three contrasting movements. The first movement, marked Allegretto, features a broadly sung, energetic first theme, followed by a more lyrical, cantabile second theme. The work unfolds according to the traditional sonata-allegro design, and ends with a witty recollection of the first theme.
The second movement, marked Adagio, opens with an expressive and melancholy theme in the piano. The theme is then taken up by the French Horn, and is subtly developed and expanded, reaching several climaxes, before ending with a mournful passage alternating the two instruments over a pulsating pedal.
The third movement is marked Allegro giocoso and features two rhythmic and cheerful themes, followed by a third more lyrical theme. In the recapitulation all three themes are restated with some modest development, leading to a brisk coda.
The Sonata is a transcription of my Sonata for Double Bass and Piano, which was commissioned by Stephen Tramontozzi, my colleague at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and Assistant Principal Bassist of the San Francisco Symphony.
Sonata for French Horn and Piano was transcribed for Kevin Rivard, my colleague at the San Francisco Conservatory and Principal French Horn in the San Francisco Opera Orchestra.—David Conte