John Purser

Sonata

My Sonata for Trombone and Piano was commissioned in 2001 by John Kenny with the financial assistance of the Hope Scott Trust. It is in a single movement and a single tempo throughout. I have always thought of the trombone as a vocal instrument and this piece gives it long melodic singing lines in the opening theme. However, it can also be immensely powerful and aggressive, and when the piano follows with a tune of unashamed innocence, the trombone begins to express disquiet. This in turn affects the piano and leads into a mechanical and unyielding section, with the piano building on an inexorable walking bass line, and the trombone becoming rhythmically active and aggressive. At the climax of this section the opening theme returns on the trombone, asserting its greater power, which both instruments then discuss more thoughtfully. In the final section, the piano repeats its innocent tune without interruption and, in a gentle solo, the trombone reaches a mood in which it can close the work playing the same tune it earlier rejected. From this it distils its own innocence, a simple descending major arpeggio which echoes the basic acoustic laws upon which all lip reed-instruments depend. I have dedicated this piece to my son, Sean, as it reflects both his strengths and his gentleness. John Purser