June Emerson Wind Music

Composer: William Hurlstone (1876-1906)
Format: Sheet Music
Instrumentation: Bassoon and Piano

A four movement sonata of substance for both pianist and bassoonist, less for the virtuosity of the bassoon writing than the exploitation of the instrument's range of pitch and expression.

William Yeates Hurlstone is one of the intriguing might-have-beens of musical history. Although very highly thought of in his time, he died before his talent could come to full maturity and we can only guess at the directions he might have taken. He published his first compositions at the age of nine, gained a scholarship to the Royal College of Music at eighteen, became a brilliant pianist and had his works widely performed. After years of somewhat meagre existence he returned to his college as Professor of Counterpoint at the age of twenty-nine. A year later he was dead of bronchial asthma.

The Bassoon Sonata in F is dedicated to Edward Dubrucq (1874-1940), a well-known bassoonist of the time. It is attributed to 1904, two years before the composer's death, and is recorded as being published posthumously in 1907 by 'Ch. Avison', a publishing business set up by the Society of British Composers for the benefit of young composers.
Duration: 18:00

Contents:

• I Vivace
• II Ballade - Moderato, ma sempre a piacere
• III Allegretto
• IV Moderato