Sonata for Violin and Organ (2004) was commissioned by Harrison Nelson for the Gough Duo and is dedicated to Rupert and Rachel Gough who gave the premiere in November 2004 at St. John’s Smith, Smith Square in London. It was inspired by the Gough Duo’s brilliant playing. The work is in three movements.

The first movement, Telescope, begins with a lyrical but wide-ranging violin melody, played over an organ pedal point. Throughout this movement, this melody is “telescoped” and builds to a climax. Finally, it returns to its original state for a reposed conclusion.

The second movement, Ballade for Max, is dedicated to British composer Sir Peter Maxwell Davies on the occasion of his 70th birthday. It is a series of simple songs which are developed over passacaglia-like harmonic progressions.

The third movement, Keep on Shining!, shows influences of American folk and gospel music. The basic building block of the movement is a recurring “gospel refrain” which continues to interject itself. Materials from the first and second movement are used throughout and transformed. The movement is energetic and driving and leads the work to a joyous conclusion.