Sextet

This large-scale work was written between December 1979 and February 1980. It is in three movements, the first and third of which are basically concerned with the presentation, rotation and final swapping of two twelve note rows; one assigned to the horn and the other to the piano. These movements are essentially dramatic with the horn and piano acting as the main protagonists, competing to dominate the musical argument and the other four players. The slow nocturnal middle movement stands in contrast to the other two. It is basically a ternary structure, the central section of which is a horn solo. This is flanked by sections with irregular pulsing chords, against which the horn plays a sustained melodic line.

The piece was commissioned by the Keewaydin Quintet with funds from the RVW Trust. It was premiered in March 1980 in the Lyons Concert Hal at York University by the Keewaydin Wind Quintet with Clive Williamson piano conducted by Corey Field.

Philip Grange