"This book considers the way in which British composers took an established Austro-German form as a starting-point. Influences from late romantic music, French impressionism, Russian nationalism, Scriabin, British folk music, African-American music and neo-classicism were all synthesized during this period, but the Austro-German tradition was ultimately to prove inescapable. The book also contains interesting and unique interviews, including one with Sir Michael Tippett, and includes a useful reference section, cataloguing the sonatas, as well as a full discography chronicling the recording history of each sonata, and numerous musical examples."--Jacket.