Sasha Canter, Emily Andrews, Lindsey Ellis, Angus Meryon - Sonatas by Andrew Downes, Vol. 2 (2026) [Hi-Res]

Tracklist

CD1
01. Meditations, Op. 38: I. Andante
02. Meditations, Op. 38: II. Allegro ma non troppo
03. Meditations, Op. 38: III. Adagio. Desolate
04. Flute Sonata, Op. 67: I. Andante espressivo
05. Flute Sonata, Op. 67: II. Allegro vivace
06. Flute Sonata, Op. 67: III. Andante e semplice
07. Piccolo Sonata, Op. 74: I. Gently and Smoothly
08. Piccolo Sonata, Op. 74: II. Andante spirituale
09. Piccolo Sonata, Op. 74: III. Allegro vivace
10. Clarinet Sonata, Op. 100: I. Andante e molto espressivo
11. Clarinet Sonata, Op. 100: II. Allegro vivace
12. Clarinet Sonata, Op. 100: III. Andante tranquillo
13. Clarinet Sonata, Op. 100: IV. Allegro - With Vitality

CD2
01. Violin Sonata No. 2, Op. 117: I. Groovy
02. Violin Sonata No. 2, Op. 117: II. Andante
03. Violin Sonata No. 2, Op. 117: III. Riff
04. Trumpet Sonata, Op. 120: I. Spirited
05. Trumpet Sonata, Op. 120: II. Adagio espressivo
06. Trumpet Sonata, Op. 120: III. Gallop
07. Bassoon Sonata, Op. 121: I. Andante
08. Bassoon Sonata, Op. 121: II. Homage
09. Bassoon Sonata, Op. 121: III. Valediction
10. The Last Trumpet, Op. 46

A major new sequel recording, Prima Facie's Sonatas by Andrew Downes: Volume II, continues the compelling and deeply personal survey of the chamber works of British composer Andrew Downes (1950–2023), bringing together a distinguished roster of performers to honour one of the UK’s most distinctive musical voices.

Spanning more than three decades of composition—from Meditations for Solo Trumpet (1986) to the Bassoon Sonata (2022), Downes’s final work—the album captures the breadth, imagination, and emotional depth that define his output. Through a sequence of sonatas and solo works, the recording traces the composer’s evolving style, blending lyrical Romanticism with influences drawn from Tudor music, jazz, and global traditions.

At the heart of the release is a series of vividly characterised sonatas for a wide range of instruments, including flute, piccolo, clarinet, violin, trumpet, and bassoon, each performed by leading artists in their field. Highlights include the Sonata for Flute and Piano (1998), a work that juxtaposes folk-inspired lyricism with rhythmic vitality, and the Sonata for Clarinet and Piano (2009), dedicated to its performers and praised for its expressive dialogue between instruments.