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Work Overview
The gold standard for composers who try to
portray the character of someone in a classical style is Elgar's
'Enigma Variations'. This genre is not
often attempted.
Llewellyn has written
this quartet in a lockdown year as a homage to a dynamic friend
of many decades. She wrote several draft movements before
settling on the best way to fulfill this commission. How do you
summarise a life through music?
The
first movement opens to reveal childhood fun with her many
siblings. The second slower movement has a theme based on her
mother's name, Edna (E-D & A) whom she loved deeply. The third
movement is full of the energy, drive and passion of Ruth's work
leadership and work ethic. Finally, a solemn, but uplifting
tribute to her faith in facing a terminal illness in her
mid-60s.
It is Llewellyn's musical
portrait of her friend, but also a journey we each make through
the many wondrous stages of life's
unfolding.
The string quartet is the
perfect instrumental ensemble to reveal these many life colours,
full of feeling as the various movements unfold with the four
intertwining voices. The music suits a professional
quartet.
Early listeners have found
the work 'joyful, captivating...haunting'.
Work Details
Year: 2021
Instrumentation: 2 violins, viola, cello.
Duration: 15 min.
Difficulty: Advanced — strong ensemble cohesiveness
Commission note: commissioned by Kelvyn Prescott OAM as a tribute to his wife Ruth
The composer notes the following styles, genres, influences, etc in relation to this work:
In memoriam quartets, musical portraits
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