Christine Richardson's Nocturne is a lyrical recital piece for horn and piano, shaped around melody and expressive phrasing. Richardson originally composed it for her senior recital at the University of Southern California and later returned to revise the work. Her notes describe it as programmatic, although they do not specify a detailed narrative.
The horn writing offers opportunities to show tone quality and control in both high and low registers. For a player choosing recital repertoire, its main attraction is the chance to sustain a musical line and give changes of register a consistent expressive purpose. It can also provide lesson material for exploring phrasing and the relationship between sound and musical character.
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Christine Richardson has been a music educator for 37 years teaching band, orchestra, choir and elementary music in Banning, California. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from University of Southern California and a teaching credential from California State University Fullerton.
Christine studied music composition with Lynn Blake John 2021–2023, and her current instructor is Robert Barrett. She is a member of the National Association of Composers (NACUSA), the Society of Composers Inc., and the Boston New Music Initiative.
Currently, Christine plays horn for both the Empire Wind Ensemble and the Redlands Community Orchestra.
Since retiring, she re-discovered the joy of composing music for orchestra, concert band, and small ensembles — writing programmatic works inspired by hiking trails in California and travels to the Grand Canyon, Kenya, and Norway. She is also a volunteer for the Wildlands Conservancy at Oak Glen, California.
Christine Richardson's Nocturne is a lyrical recital piece for horn and piano, shaped around melody and expressive phrasing. Richardson originally composed it for her senior recital at the University of Southern California and later returned to revise the work. Her notes describe it as programmatic, although they do not specify a detailed narrative.
The horn writing offers opportunities to show tone quality and control in both high and low registers. For a player choosing recital repertoire, its main attraction is the chance to sustain a musical line and give changes of register a consistent expressive purpose. It can also provide lesson material for exploring phrasing and the relationship between sound and musical character.
*****
Christine Richardson has been a music educator for 37 years teaching band, orchestra, choir and elementary music in Banning, California. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from University of Southern California and a teaching credential from California State University Fullerton.
Christine studied music composition with Lynn Blake John 2021–2023, and her current instructor is Robert Barrett. She is a member of the National Association of Composers (NACUSA), the Society of Composers Inc., and the Boston New Music Initiative.
Currently, Christine plays horn for both the Empire Wind Ensemble and the Redlands Community Orchestra.
Since retiring, she re-discovered the joy of composing music for orchestra, concert band, and small ensembles — writing programmatic works inspired by hiking trails in California and travels to the Grand Canyon, Kenya, and Norway. She is also a volunteer for the Wildlands Conservancy at Oak Glen, California.