This piece had its beginning in a quotation from Christopher Simpson's book
The Division-violist (1659), which I came across in
The New Grove. Writing about fantasias for several viols, Simpson says that they are "
Composed in the way of Fancy: beginning with some
Fuge; then falling into
Points of Division, answering One Another, sometimes Two answering One, and sometimes All joyning Together in
Division; but commonly, ending in Grave, and Harmonious
Musick." ("Division" was a technique of variation, and "Fuge" at that time meant not "a fugue" in the Baroque sense, but passages of imitation within a texture.)
My piece is a single movement in three sections. In the first there are three themes: a melody first played on violas, and two tiny fugal figures above and below the melody. These ideas are repeated in a variety of guises, and eventually build to a climax which breaks into the second section. Here, a pattern of two-part harmonies is repeated as a "ground", while the other instruments throw ideas around in opposition or accompaniment. This section calms down towards its end, with a reappearance of the viola melody (on violins); and it settles comfortably into the final section where there are two themes which simply alternate: a richly harmonic counterpoint, and distant music played by four soloists.
Commissioned by Music on Sundays for Chichester String Ensemble, with financial assistance from individual members of Music On Sundays, Chichester City Council and the RVW Trust. The first performance was given by Chichester String Ensemble conducted by Louis Halsey, on 1st July 2012 at Christ Church, Chichester.
- ISMN: 9790570684373 (M570684373)
