Horn Trio, for horn in F, violin and piano, Score and parts

The idea to write a horn trio came to the composer (also an acclaimed pianist) after giving a concert with a horn player from the Nash Ensemble, which included the Ligeti and the Brahms horn trios. When the Nash commissioned Watkins to write a new piece, he knew he would write something for horn. The result is an inventive 12-minute work for horn, violin, and piano that alternates driving rhythmic passages with slower, contemplative music. The trio is both lyrical and impelling, typifying Watkins' clear sound. Cast in a single movement, the music maintains a subtle tension throughout, finally building to a climactic finish. A fantastic piece for ambitious players.