Richard Ayres - Three Small Pieces for String Quartet

Five years after its completion, Richard Ayres’ “No. 38 (three small pieces for string quartet)” will finally receive its first complete performance.  On 7th November 2008, Quatuor Bozzini will present the work at the Université McGill in Montréal, Canada before taking it to the Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ' in Amsterdam on 19th November.

Each of the pieces has its own character: the first is a short tribute to the Rumanian singer Maria Tenase; the second is a fast, folk-like melody in 11/16 time; whilst the final movement, titled "Countess Eva von Spendu (on an horse) gallops through the forest (pausing four times to contemplate natural splendor)" contains hunting gallops, a Feldmanesque 19 bar blues, and some “devilish fiddling”.

Richard Ayres’ most recent work is “No. 43 (Glorious)”.  It was commissioned by continuum, (Toronto) to accompany a new film by Guy Maddin and will receive its premiere on 21st November in Amsterdam as part of the SHIFT arts festival.  The UK premiere will take place as part of the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival on 25th November.

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• Quatuor Bozzini
• Continuum