This work was commissioned by Professor James Watson for the brass faculty of the Royal Academy of Music, London. It was composed between January and May 2007. The first performance was given on 12 June 2008 by Blair Sinclair (towhom the work is dedicated) and Timothy End.

It is the third in a series of six works for brass, which began with sonatas for Bass Tuba and Piano (2006) and Bass Trombone and Piano (2006) and will conclude with two moresonatas (French Horn, Trumpet/Flugel Horn) and a ...