Following the first performance of his Cello Concerto in May 1998, David Earl wrote this Sonata in the late summer of that year. Conceived in a traditional sonata-form mould, and on a large scale, the energy and volitional drive of the first two movements is tempered by pensive, questioning cadenzas for the cello. These reappear at intervals, and lead inexorably to the heart of the piece – an understated but deeply powerful elegy whose implacable resignation is foretold from the composition's opening bars.

The first performance was given by George Corbett and James Sherlock in the Holywell Music Room, Oxford, on 18th January 2006.

Mandala is a Sanskrit word, meaning 'circle' or 'ring'. In the Buddhist tradition, mandalas are devotional images consisting of symmetrical patterns, often with an icon of a Buddha or Bodhisattva at their centre. Such symbols, as well as depicting Buddhist figures, are also said to exist for the benefit of sentient beings – informing, protecting, enlightening. This piano suite was commissioned by The Maidenhead Music Society, on the occasion of its 60th anniversary 1996/97, and first performed there by the composer on 27th April 1997.

Born in South Africa, David Earl moved to London at age nineteen, and has since lived there, and in Oxford and Cambridge. While studying piano and composition at Trinity College of Music he gave his first Wigmore Hall recital and broadcast a live recital on BBC Radio 3. After winning first prize in the SABC Piano Competition he performed widely, appearing regularly at London venues, in the US, and much of Europe.

His professional career as a composer began in 1980 with the premiere of Cheri, an hour-long ballet commissioned by The Scottish Ballet, given at that year's Edinburgh Festival, and frequently revived. In 1989 a new production was mounted by The Hong Kong Ballet. Four more ballet commissions followed, including two scores for CAPAB Ballet. Piano Concerto No 1 appeared in 1980, followed by a Two-Piano Concerto (1986), concertos for Violin (1990), Cello (1998), Trumpet (2005), and, in June 2007, Piano Concerto No 2. Among choral compositions are a symphonic setting of Wordsworth's Intimations of Immortality, and a cyclic setting of George Herbert - Mans' Medley.

Chamber works include sonatas for violin and cello, and, for solo piano, three suites – Mosaics, Gargoyles and Mandalas - and Oxymorons, a set of 24 Preludes. Music for film includes P'Tang Yang Kipperbang, directed by Michael Apted, and Arthur's Hallowed Ground, directed by the veteran cinematographer Freddie Young.

George Corbett studied the cello with Nicholas Jones at Chetham's School of Music, Manchester, and, while a student at Cambridge University, with Ralph Kirschbaum. He is a winner of numerous prizes and was a national string finalist in the BBC Young Musician of the Year.

James Sherlock studied at Chetham's School of Music and as a music scholar at Eton College. He later graduated from Trinity College Cambridge, where he was organ scholar, and is currently pursuing further research into music and autism. He performs regularly as a pianist, chamber musician, organist and conductor. Competition successes include Gold Medal at the Marcello Galanti International Organ Competition and the Edith Leigh Piano Prize.

[performed by George Corbett (cello) and James Sherlock (piano)]

[performed by David Earl]