The World Premier at St Peter's Church, Vienna

February 8th 2026

Violin Neil Dixon: Piano David Mikic

Programme notes: 

Huw Dixon Sonata for Violin and Piano, Opus 5 (2025).

This violin Sonata was written for the two performers (David Mikic and Neil Dixon) after the one movement work “Four Candles” was recorded by them in 2025.   The compositional style is poly-stylistic, in that it retains the form of the traditional classical “genre” but includes elements of harmony and rhythm from more contemporary popular music of recent decades, along with references back to older classical elements. The Sonata has the traditional three movements.  Both the first and last begin with an andante solo violin soliloquy,  which set the scene.

1. Andante, Allegro, Vivace. After the violinist introduces the second theme, the joyous dance like first theme comes followed by the mysterious second theme. A short development switches to combine both in a minor key. A brief speeded up recapitulation runs through the two themes exploring cross-rhythms.
2. The movement opens with a lyrical melody, which has a simple harmonic structure of C major, but explores the modal ambiguities to develop lyrical tension. The middle section is a contrasting minor theme with much drama.
3. Andante, Allegro, Presto. The finale is a rondo. The main theme is cinematic and occurs over a repeated four chords. The second section introduces a contrasting spikey feeling with a hurried ostinato in the piano. After the return of the main theme, the first theme of the first movement is re-introduced as an elegiac element. The last part of the movement is a “Pot Pouri”   of the first themes of the two movements,  alternating and combining the themes with other elements from the finale to create a suitable climax to end the work.

Huw Dixon is a British (Welsh) composer who lives in Cardiff. ©HuwDixon 2026

Copyright Huw Dixon 2026. Unauthorized copying, hiring, lending, public performance, and broadcasting of this recording are prohibited unless authorized by Huw Dixon. The sheet music is available on request.