The first movement of a four-movement work for piano, this has had a protracted and wayward gestation. Its composition and completion owe much to the encouragement and suggestions I received from two online friends - Pat Ross-Ross and Juan José Ortega, now sadly no longer with us, to whom the first two movements are dedicated. The choice of Sonatine as a title is deliberate - partly tongue-in-cheek given its scope and partly because its structure makes only a passing nod to classic sonata form.

The material in the opening page provides the thematic basis of this movement as well as of the three succeeding movements, with the bass line providing a secondary, quieter theme that first appears at bar 25. The style of this movement is contrapuntal, rhythmically driven, and harmonically ambiguous, with marked changes in tempo and mood.

This movement had its premiere in London in April 2015, performed by Catherine Herriott (www.catherineherriott.co.uk). All four movements are due to have their premiere in February 2023, performed by Edmund Bloxam. The attached audio file is by NotePerfomer.