The Rothstein Sonata - Violin Sonata No.1

Originally composed for Jack Rothstein 1973

Revised in 1994 for Christiane Edinger

All 3 movements extensively revised August/September 2007 for Madeleine Mitchell and renamed as Madeleine Mitchell, Violin Sonata no.2, recorded for Naxos by Madeleine Mitchell and the composer in 2008

Composer’s note: In February 2007 I found myself conducting in Edinburgh and the cellist from Miles’ quartet, Mark Bailey, who was playing in the orchestra, approached me and we reminisced a little. I started to recall Miles’ playing from all those years ago. He had very high ideals in regard to music and strong opinions as to the quality and importance of the greatest composers.  Perhaps for this very reason I had never summoned up the temerity to thrust my own work on him. During this conversation however the idea of some sort of musical tribute to Miles was briefly mooted, although it got no further, yet during the summer I dug out the material and looked at  it again, some of it going back as far as 50 years! Suddenly I conceived a completely new beginning and this set me on the path of extensively and ferociously revising the entire piece. Whilst writing I constantly remembered Miles virtuosity and artistic punctiliousness, his views on music and his extreme conscientiousness as regards to markings, tempo and dynamics. Having completed  it I marked it ‘Dedicated to the memory of Miles Baster.’  The slow movement might seem to have a requiem-like quality, although the work is of a virtuoso nature throughout. I can only hope that he might conceivably have approved. That would have been a rare honour.’