Strings

String Works

Violin

Violin Sonata No.1 - duration 36:00

Violin Sonata No.2 - duration 22:25
in 4 movements

Violin Sonatina No.1 - duration 14:00

Violin Study No.1 - duration 3:20

Easy Tunes for Tamariki - contains two violin pieces by Colin Decio
- 6. Aue (at 4:33) & 10. Train Ride (at 5:37) available from Sounz - here

Easy Tunes for Tamariki

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Viola

Viola Sonata No.1
in four movements – - duration 20:00 - begins with a simple ‘Sephardic’ theme. This is treated to development and augmentation to become a dance, which then stalls. The slow movement opens with a lyrical melody. This gains momentum becoming a folk-like tune. The opening idea returns to peacefully close the movement. The third movement, composed during Christmas celebrations, is a Romance. The fourth movement begins with an angular, martial theme. This is developed and slowly gains momentum until the work resigns with a distant melody on viola harmonics.

Viola Sonata No. 2 - duration 23:00

Violin Sonata No.1
I - Lento, II - Lento, III - Presto,
IV - Con fuoco, V - Allegretto
A major work for violin and piano. Both instruments carry equal weight throughout.
The first movement opens with the interval of a perfect fourth on the piano answered by perfect fifths on the open strings of the violin. This juxtaposition of fourths and fifths is then much developed throughout the work. At times the violin and piano break out into cadenza-like passages. Ostinati are much used in both the first and last movements. The second, slower movement comes as a relief after the mania of the first movement. The third movement begins with ricochet bowing against which the piano runs around in semi-quavers. After a 'volcanic' climax the fourth movement begins with a cadenza of disturbing minor ninths for piano solo, which is then echoed by the violin before finally settling into a slow repetitive pattern of chords on the piano over which the violin makes an attempt at a melody. The finale begins with violin pizzicato and makes a nod towards jazz in the coda, ending with a final abrupt stop and de-tuning of the 'G' string of the violin.

Violin Sonata No.2
The Violin Sonata No.2 begins with the voices of the two instruments in disagreement. The violin ascends in duple time in an ambiguous tonality whilst the piano descends chromatically in compound time. The two voices then switch roles as the violin offers the accompaniment to the pianos’ melody. At Bar 30 the violin offers a melodic statement in the same key as the piano. The two voices then retrace their earlier progressions but this time they find a mutual harmony. At bar 62 a new lively theme is introduced by the piano and then echoed on violin. This new theme is treated to several variations. At bar 127 a lighter theme enters on violin and then piano. Bar 147 sees an echo of the opening idea. At 203 a lively dance begins but that is stopped by strident stabbing chords. The movement ends gracefully with a short extract from earlier.
The 2nd movement begins with a gentle folk song, melody and accompaniment. But at 29 there is a return to the more brazen disagreement. This culminates in a forced harmonic melody not unlike Rachmaninoff. The movement ends at the bottom of the piano and with a high harmonic on violin.
This same idea is developed in the 3rd mvt.
The final movement returns to the dance and a final agreement on ‘E’.

Trickier Tunes for Tamariki - contains a violin piece by Colin Decio
- 12. Village Dance (at 3:56) available from Sounz - here

Trickier Tunes for Tamariki

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Viola Rhapsody - duration 10:00

in memory of Shostakovich"

Tiora Tioro (Viola Screech) - solo viola - duration 3:44
This work was 'Commended' in the Australia and New Zealand Viola Society Composition Winter Competition 2021

Tiora Tioro translates as ‘Viola Screech’. In two places during the piece the performer plays on the strings behind the bridge. Overall the music takes the form of a ‘Ukrainian’ dance.

Cello

Cello Sonata -- duration 23:00

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This is a substantial work..."
- Roger Jones Glos. Echo

Cello Sonatina No. 2 - duration 17:00

Cello Sonatina No. 3 - duration 16:00

Aphorisms - cello and piano - duration 10:00

Suite for Cello and Piano - in 6 movements
duration 16:40

Beneficent Beings - cello and piano in 2 parts
duration 12:30

Bass

Sonatina No. 1 for bass and piano - duration 13:00

Sonatina No. 2 - bass and piano - duration 15:00
Sonatina No. 3 'Maidan Snowdrops I' - bass and piano - duration 11:21
7 Little Snowflakes - bass and piano

Bass Viola da Gamba
'A Silver Swan is Barking at the Moon'
- solo bass viol - duration 11:30
in three movements
1. Allemande
2. Pavan
3. Saltatio

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Clare Graham - cello, Colin Decio - piano

Cello Sonatina No. 1 - duration 15:00

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Guitar

Guitar Sonatina - duration 13:00

Two Short Pieces for Guitar - Funeral March & Cadenza

Harpsichord

A Little Suite - duration 7:00
Minuet, *Toccata & Two-Part Invention

(see also Angularity for harpsichord and string quartet - Quintets)

Harp
Primum non nocere

A suite in 5 movements for solo harp
- duration 10:00

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Wind Works