Among his many compositions, Kenneth V. Joneswrote a concerto for string orchestra (1956), a concertofor oboe and strings (1963), The Pollock, an orchestralprelude (1963), O Light Invisible, a cantata for soprano,mixed chorus and orchestra (1963), a sonata for soloviolin (1967), Dialysis, for violin and harpsichord(1973), Quaquaverse, for saxophone quartet (1979),Paean for organ (1983), three Sinfonias for orchestra, aswell as piano works, song cycles, film, play andtelevision scores and church music, including hymnsand anthems.The String Quartet No. 1, Op. 6 (1950) is cast in oneunbroken movement consisting of two clear sections.In the short opening Lento espressivo, an eloquent,sinuous theme is introduced by the first violin andthen taken up the viola. Gradually the tempo increases,heralding the arrival of the main Allegro moderato,closely argued and driven by an unflagging rhythmicenergy. Commenting on this piece, Jones asserted thatthe ‘acerbic, gritty character of the music’ is in ‘directcontrast’ to the pre-Second World War ‘Englishpastoral style’. Nevertheless, there is, to these ears atleast, a certain folk-like quality to the writing, not leastin its punchy syncopations, that roots the score in adistinctly British landscape.
