Work
Eloge
for euphonium and piano
About
Eloge for Euphonium and Piano was composed in 2006 reworking and extending material from his 1997 composition Eloge for French Horn and Piano. An eloge is an elegy: a musical epitaph or eulogy. The English word “eloquent” is also a derivative. This piece is structured in an arch with a central soaring song-like section flanked with more flowing sections that are at times lyrical and at others restless. These in turn are flanked with an opening introduction and a short epilogue. The piece makes much use of the major second step. The recurring refrain that links different sections contains a veiled reference to the falling step typical horn call which features as the “Lebewohl” motive of Beethoven's Les Adieux 26th piano sonata.
Performance history
19 May 2010: First performed by Errol Moore (euphonium) and John van Buskirk (piano) at Marama Hall, University of Otago, in Dunedin
First performed by Errol Moore (euphonium) and John van Buskirk (piano) at Marama Hall, University of Otago, on 20 September 2009