SPRING ROCK SONATA

for Violin and Piano 1981

David Hellewell

Having already composed six "Rock Sonatas" for solo piano, the Spring Rock Sonata was the second of Hellewell's duo instrumental Rock Sonatas: the others are for flute; clarinet; cello and viola.

The title makes reference, of course, to Beethoven's Spring Sonata, but there is no actual compositional connection, rather it is this title, coupled with the word Rock, which denotes the essence of the work. It is a lyrical Vivaldi-type piece, of some 10 minutes duration, the headings of the sections giving a guide to its content: Giocoso; Punk Rock; Folk Song; Grand Waltz; Jazz Waltz; Grandioso; etc.

This was the first piece the composer played with the Chinese violinist Min Yang on their first meeting at his home in Bournemouth in the Spring of 1990, and which, therefore, was instrumental in bringing about the composer's subsequent Peking visit and performances there of his music.