This work was composed for and dedicated to the celebrated saxophonist John Harle who, like myself, hails from Tyneside in the north-east of England. Each movement is written to portray a specific characteristic life along the river. James Rae

The Tyne starts its life as two rivers, hence the title of the first movement : The Sources.
These converge to form the River Tyne at an appropriately named location west of Hexham called Watersmeet, the title of the second movement. The final movement is Sandgate Jig named after Sandgate, a street near Newcastle quayside where many keelmen used to live. Premiered at the Dartington International Summer School 2011, this sonata would make a fine choice for the concert programme for the more advanced player.