Concerto Accademico

The Concerto Accademico was commissioned by the Regia Academia Filarmonico di Bologna and the Stuttgart Kammerorchester, and since I was granted the diploma of the Bologna Academy in December 2011, I decided to make this work not only an expression of gratitude, but also, perhaps, in part, a presentation of academic qualification, to justify this singular honour. It is scored for string quartet and string orchestra, and is based upon a plainsong heard at the outset, associated with the Holy Spirit descending upon the disciples at Pentecost, and their subsequent speaking (or singing!) in tongues. Peter Maxwell Davies