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Work Overview
The Bell Birds Suite for string quartet is inspired by Henry Kendall's poem 'Bell Birds', first published in 1869, in a book of collected poems entitled "Leaves from Australian Forests", and was commissioned by the ABC as part of the Fresh Start Fund initiative in 2020 for recording by members of the WA based Darlington Quartet. Each movement of the work is loosely programmed around the five stanzas of Kendall's poem, and although the work itself contains compositional elements that mimic Australian birdsong (Bell Birds, Golden Whip Birds, Djidi Djidi or Willy Wagtails, Currawongs and Bar shouldered doves) the intention of the piece is that this is the poet's experience of the bush, an emotional and profound expression of their love for the Australian bush and its animals, and as such the focus of the piece should be the expression of the rich melodies that underpin the poet's feelings portrayed in the text.
Work Details
Year: 2020
Instrumentation: String quartet.
Duration: 18 min.
Difficulty: Advanced
Contents note: I. Largo tranquillo -- II. Allegro luminoso -- III.Lento sognando -- IV. Allegro furioso -- V. Largo con dolore.
Commission note: Commissioned by the ABC as part of their Fresh Start Fund in 2020
Performances of this work
3 Oct 21: Perth Concert Hall, WA. Featuring Musica Viva Ensemble.
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