Aria was commissioned by and written for the remarkable tenor horn player, Sheona White. Philip Sparke had produced a CD recording with Sheona as soloist and had her wonderful sound in his ears while writing this piece. The work opens with an accompanied recitative, which leads to a change of key where the main melody is presented. This, in turn, serves merely as an introduction to another melodic idea, marked calmato. The piano accompaniment takes up this theme and then takes centre stage with a passionate repeat of the main theme, which is completed by the soloist. The piano then plays the calmato theme against which the soloist plays a counter melody. This leads to a return of the opening recitative which brings the work to a peaceful close.
