Abstract
'Eloge for Euphonium and Piano' was composed in 2006 reworking and extending material from Peter Adams's 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.
20 September 2009: First performed by Errol Moore (euphonium) and John van Buskirk (piano) at Marama Hall, University of Otago, in Dunedin.