Agafonnikov Sonata for Trumpet and Piano
Instrumentation: Trumpet and PianoParts included: Trumpet in Bb, Piano
Difficulty (I-VI): VI
Series: Edward Tarr Brass
Vladislav Agafonnikov was born in 1936 in Podolsk (near Moscow) into a family of musicians. As a boy he was a member of the famous boys' choir of the Moscow Choral School, directed by Prof. A. Sveshnikov. He entered the Moscow Conservatory in 1954 and was awarded diplomas in composition in 1959 (Prof. V. J. Shebalin) and piano in 1962 (Prof. J. I. Sak), with a further graduate diploma in composition in 1963.
He is presently teaching at the Conservatory. Agafonnikov is also secretary of the board of the Soviet Composers Union and has been a member of the European regional group of the International Music Council (ERG) since 1986.
The Sonata for Trumpet and Piano was written in 1974 for Prof. G. A. Orvid of the Moscow Conservatory, who was also the first to perform it. It is in three parts: Introduction (Moderato con moto), Ciaccona (Listesso tempo) and Toccata (Allegro moderato); parts I and II follow attacca.
Agafonnikov has written for many media, including opera (Anna Snegina 1968), ballet (The Timurovites 1978), symphonic (Symphony 1976, Triptych for String Orchestra 1976), choral (The Moscow Gavroche 1972, A Ballad about the Violin for childrens chorus and violin 1978), chamber vocal (two song cycles, 1965 and 1967), and chamber instrumental (Piano Sonata 1958, Scherzo for Piano 1961, and the present work). His is an essentially lyrical talent, combining national folk elements with his own style to form an homogenous whole.
The preface describes the situation at the time of publication in 1990. Covers delivered can vary.