Charles Reskin

Sonata

The sonata was inspired in part by the American music, both classical and jazz, of the mid-20th century, and is an homage to the composers of that era.

The two outer movements are written for Trumpet in C, and follow the general formal structure of a sonata. The first movement is in sonata-allegro form, contrasting a lyrical first theme with an agitated and chaotic second theme group.
The middle movement is written for the flügelhorn, and is in the form of a very simple 'lullabye' melody which evolves into a kind of 'dream episode' in a lively jazz-fusion style before gradually returning to the tranquil mood of the opening.
The third movement is a spirited, light-hearted rondo which conjures up images of the American West.

The Sonata is dedicated to the memory of my teachers, Hall Overton (1920-1972), and William Vacchiano (1912-2005).