This Prelude reworks part of a beautiful 17th century suite for solo bass viol by Monsieur de Sainte Colombe le fils. The sparser lines of the solo viol are refracted into a deep, rich ensemble of five low string instruments – implied harmonies made audible, new ones added, everything getting generally thicker and creamier.

I’ve also written in a lot of decoration and rhythmic freedom – trying to capture some of the liquid freedom that can lift music of this period off the page.

Instrumentation:

2 violas, 2 cellos & double bass (or can be performed by a string orchestra without violins)

Duration:

7 mins

Commission:

Commissioned by Musikdorf Ernen

Score and Parts:

For hire of performance materials, please contact promotion@fabermusic.com

Performances:

16 Jun 2025

Scottish Ensemble

V&A Museum, Dundee, UK

14 Jun 2025

Scottish Ensemble

National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, UK

13 Jun 2025

Scottish Ensemble

Kelvingrove Art Gallery, Glasgow, UK

11 Jun 2025

Scottish Ensemble

Aberdeen Art Gallery, Aberdeen, UK

10 Jun 2025

Scottish Ensemble

Strathpeffer Pavilion, Strathpeffer, UK

9 Jun 2025

Scottish Ensemble

Rossie Byre, Perthshire, UK

25 Feb 2025

12 Ensemble

Wigmore Hall, London, UK

UK premiere

4 May 2024

Richard Tognetti – Australian Chamber Orchestra

TarraWarra Museum of Art, Healesville, Australia

Australian premiere

8 Aug 2022

Alinka Rowe, Alessandro D’Amico, Chiara Enderle Samatanga, Nadja Reich & Jordi Carrasco Hjelm

Kircher Ernen, Musikdorf Ernen, Switzerland

 World premiere