Format : Sheet music
Commissioned by the Presteigne Festival of Music and the Arts Limited with funds provided by the Arts Council of Wales for premiere in August 2012 by the Carducci String Quartet in St. Andrew s Church Presteigne.Composer's Note'Some years ago I noted down the opening theme of what I anticipated would be a relatively Classical string quartet Classical in the sense of the forms adopted plus perhaps a predominantly lyrical tone of voice. The commission for this work from the Presteigne Festival for their 30th anniversary in 2012 gave me the opportunity of putting into practice this long-held idea. It isdedicated to the Festival and to the Carducci Quartet whose career as much-admired friends and colleagues I have greatly enjoyed.The only break with classical tradition is that there are five movements instead of four with two Scherzi as the second and third though both these are very short and contrasting. I found myself listening to Haydn s string quartets a lot before and during the composition of this work and I hope the spirit of his delight in writing for this medium is echoed in my own music. The opening movement is in sonata form unusually for me and lyricism is I hope the basis of it though there is a good deal of activity at times. The Scherzo light and marked by frequently-changing rhythms is followed by an equally short but ferocious Perpetuum mobile marked Wild und rasch (one of my favourite German tempo markings). The fourth movement is an intense Adagio in which a single phrase uttered strongly in unison is gradually transformed into gentle diatonic chords before the close intermingled with cadenzas for cello for viola and for the two violins together. The finale (a Rondo) resumes the classical tone of the first movement but apart from one dance-like episode it builds up a fair head of steam towards a final Presto which however ascends slows and quietens towards a gentle summer sky at dusk.'
SKU: HL.14021094
ISBN 9780853609216.
This Quartet was commissioned by the Delme String Quartet, to whom it is dedicated. First performed by the Quartet, London 1982. Duration 20 minutes. A Score is also available for sale.
SKU: HL.14021095
ISBN 9780853609186.
This Quartet was commissioned by the Delme String Quartet, to whom it is dedicated. First performed by the Quartet, London 1982. Duration 20 minutes. Parts for this work are also available for sale.
SKU: HL.14021092
ISBN 9780711989528.
Written in 1989.
SKU: HL.14021093
ISBN 9780711989511.
This work was first performed at the 1989 Fishguard Festival with funds provided by the Welsh Arts Council. The work has roughly the overall shape of a substantial slow movement, followed by a double scherzo, interlude, another scherzo, and a fast finale.
SKU: HL.14031817
SKU: HL.14031819
SKU: HL.14021070
Arranged for String Quartet.