Sonata No. 3 for Violin and Piano (2012) was written for violinist Warren Davidson and pianist
Donna Amato, superb musicians for whose advocacy on behalf of my music I am very grateful.
The first movement, Canto, is an extended "song" that develops through a variety of textures.
The second movement, Lamento, is a "fierce lament" in the tradition of an old Irish "caoine." The third
movement, Variazioni, is structured as two presentations of the theme surrounding five free
variations. The theme serves both as the basis of the musical material for each variation as well as
the structural template. Each variation also contains material referring back specifically to the
previous variation. The opening theme is declamatory. The first variation is fast and limber. The
second variation is introspective and stratified. The third variation is fleeting. The fourth variation is
distant and spare. The fifth variation is fast and driving. The final theme begins whispered and
slowly regains its declamatory nature before an intense coda ends the work.