Peter Maxwell Davies's Sea Eagle is an unaccompanied horn work that turns the image of a solitary seabird into a study in space, color, and flight. Written in 1982 for Richard Watkins, who premiered it at the Dartington Summer School that year, it lasts approximately nine minutes and is published by Chester Music.
Its three movements, Adagio, Lento, and Presto molto, contrast spacious melodic writing with bursts of brilliance. The opening movement grows from a restrained beginning toward forceful flutter-tonguing and sweeping upward gestures. A reflective Lento separates it from a nimble finale that explores widely separated registers and rapid articulation.
This is demanding contemporary solo repertoire, requiring secure pitch placement, flexible movement through the range, and control of both quiet sounds and emphatic attacks. Without piano accompaniment, the horn player must also make the pacing and changing character clear. It offers an intense, compact contrast to accompanied recital works.
* Note: Houghton Horns is not in any way affiliated with the creators of this video. We included the video to give you a general taste of what the sheet music sounds like, but these artists' interpretation of the piece may differ from your sheet music.
Peter Maxwell Davies's Sea Eagle is an unaccompanied horn work that turns the image of a solitary seabird into a study in space, color, and flight. Written in 1982 for Richard Watkins, who premiered it at the Dartington Summer School that year, it lasts approximately nine minutes and is published by Chester Music.
Its three movements, Adagio, Lento, and Presto molto, contrast spacious melodic writing with bursts of brilliance. The opening movement grows from a restrained beginning toward forceful flutter-tonguing and sweeping upward gestures. A reflective Lento separates it from a nimble finale that explores widely separated registers and rapid articulation.
This is demanding contemporary solo repertoire, requiring secure pitch placement, flexible movement through the range, and control of both quiet sounds and emphatic attacks. Without piano accompaniment, the horn player must also make the pacing and changing character clear. It offers an intense, compact contrast to accompanied recital works.
* Note: Houghton Horns is not in any way affiliated with the creators of this video. We included the video to give you a general taste of what the sheet music sounds like, but these artists' interpretation of the piece may differ from your sheet music.