1. Andante: Snowdonia Vista – The Round Garden – Snowdonia Vista
2. Moderato: The Dell
3. Largo: POEM
4. Allegro con brio: Terraces and Tulips

 

YEAR: 2011

 

DURATION: 20′

 

INSTRUMENTATION: String Quartet

 

SELECTED PERFORMANCES:
25 June 2013, Didsbury Arts Festival and 17 July 2013 Buxton Festival Fringe

Deconet String Quartet

 

11 November 2018 Spring Bank Arts, New Mills, High Peak and 7 April 2019 The Witham, Barnard Castle, Teesdale

Aquarius String Quartet

 

NOTES: This String Quartet came about from a visit to Bodnant Gardens in North Wales in early spring.  The outer parts of the first movement depict the sweeping views from the upper gardens onto Snowdonia, framing a descent into the Round Garden.  The path leads down into the Dell, a wooded valley and wild garden through which runs the Afon Hiraethlyn.  The visitor then ascends through the trees, passing the family mausoleum or Place Of Eternal Memory, from which a network of paths leads through shrubberies back to the front lawn and the flights of broad, Italianate terraces.  In the flower beds that spring were rows of defiant, red and yellow, perfectly formed and immaculately presented Queen of Sheba tulips, which inspired the final movement.