On October 28, 2023, I had the pleasure of co-presenting on the music of H. Leslie Adams at the National College Music Society Conference in Miami, Florida with my dear colleague Jordan Redd. My research on this piece included a trip up to Cleveland to work with Dr. Adams in July, as well as many interviews to provide clarity about the history of the piece and the accuracy of the score. Our conference presentation included a performance of his Empire Sonata for Horn and Piano, which had not been heard since 1962. The abstract from our presentation is below:
A significant majority of horn repertoire is securely centered in the late-Romantic European tradition, as the development of the instrument peaked to its modern form in the early 19th Century. Repertoire options are much more sparse in the following century, with only a few 20th Century sonatas consistently incorporated into the venerable canon, Paul Hindemith (1895-1963) being at the top of the list. While an occasional nod may be given to American sonatas by Halsey Stevens (1908-1989) and Alec Wilder (1907-1980), one American work has been severely neglected. In 1961, H. Leslie Adams (b. 1932) composed a tremendous contribution to the sonata repertoire, a 45-minute masterpiece subtitled: “Empire.” Revised in 1980, this four-movement sonata of epic proportions has yet to be recorded. The momentous first movement stretches both instrumentalists to their limits with virtuosic passages and an intense harmonic language (recapitulation only). The intensity gives way to a lighthearted waltz in the second movement, and the third evokes the blues with contrapuntal jazz riffs passed between horn and piano. The program will end with the last two sections of the exciting finale, infused with Latin rhythms and incessant ostinatos. The rediscovery of this American masterwork for horn and piano is joyful in essence, and its inclusion into standard horn repertoire is a step towards filling the gaping hole that exists within the genre. This innovative program provides a glimpse into the recent past while inspiring a more inclusive approach to horn literature for current and future performers and educators.
H. Leslie Adams (b. 12/30/32, Cleveland, Ohio) composer of the music drama Blake, has worked in all media, including symphony, ballet, choral, vocal solo and keyboard. Adams’ works have been performed by the Prague Radio Symphony, Iceland Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic, Indianapolis Symphony and New York City Opera. He has been commissioned by The Cleveland Orchestra, Ohio Chamber Orchestra, and Cleveland Chamber Symphony, among others. Metropolitan Opera artists have performed his vocal works internationally. Adams earned degrees from Oberlin College (Conservatory of Music), Long Beach State University and Ohio State University. He is listed in the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 2nd ed., International Who’s Who in Music and Musicians; Who’s Who in American Music Classical, and Who’s Who in America. Adams is winner of the “Life Achievement Award” of the Cleveland Arts Prize; “For his career as musician and composer.”
Madeline Rogers 