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Work

Elegy, for string quartet : string quartet

by Gordon Kerry (2007)

Score Sample

View a sample of the score of this work

Audio Sample

Performance by Sartory String Quartet from the CD Works by Bowman, Schultz, Yu, Ford, Twist, Holley, Kerry, Spiers and Fowler

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Works by Bowman, Schultz, Yu, Ford, Twist, Holley, Kerry, Spiers and Fowler

Non-Commercial

This item is not commercially available from the Australian Music Centre. We regret that we cannot offer it for sale.

CD

Works by Bowman, Schultz, Yu, Ford, Twist, Holley, Kerry, Spiers and Fowler

Library shelf no. CD 2030 [Available for loan]

Display all products featuring this work (1 more)  

Work Overview

It was a great pleasure to be asked to write a piece by the Australian Youth Orchestra for the Sartory Quartet's residency at Murray Conservatorium and to know that the work would be heard extensively in the region where I live. I've composed a few pieces for local musicians, but my chamber music such as string quartets tend to be performed further afield (the previous two were premiered last year in Utrecht and London, so this is way more convenient!)

Occasionally though, a piece comes out differently from what the composer expects, and while I had intended at first to write something light I kept hearing (in my head) the kinds of plangent sounds with which this piece opens. So it became an Elegy, or lament, and was composed during the final weeks of my mother's life. Over its 10 minute span the piece keeps coming back to the opening series of chords, but explores passages of counterpoint, as well as faster-moving and occasionally gritty sections. And finally, after all players have had something significant to do and passed through some dark times, the piece ends in C major.

Work Details

Year: 2007

Instrumentation: 2 violins, viola, cello.

Duration: 10 min.

Difficulty: Advanced

Commission note: Commissioned by Australian Youth Orchestra for performance by Sartory String Quartet.

First performance: by Sartory String Quartet — Oct 07. Albury

Performances of this work

28 Apr 2012: at St Lawrence String Quartet & Diana Doherty (Melbourne Recital Centre, Elisabeth Murdoch Hall). Featuring St Lawrence String Quartet.

26 Apr 2012: at St Lawrence String Quartet & Diana Doherty (Perth Concert Hall). Featuring St Lawrence String Quartet.

24 Apr 2012: at St Lawrence String Quartet & Diana Doherty (Melbourne Recital Centre, Elisabeth Murdoch Hall). Featuring St Lawrence String Quartet.

21 Apr 2012: at St Lawrence String Quartet & Diana Doherty (City Recital Hall). Featuring St Lawrence String Quartet.

19 Apr 2012: at St Lawrence String Quartet & Diana Doherty (Adelaide Town Hall). Featuring St Lawrence String Quartet.

18 Apr 2012: at St Lawrence String Quartet & Diana Doherty (Conservatorium Theatre, Brisbane). Featuring St Lawrence String Quartet.

16 Apr 2012: at St Lawrence String Quartet & Diana Doherty (City Recital Hall). Featuring St Lawrence String Quartet.

14 Apr 2012: at St Lawrence String Quartet & Diana Doherty (Newcastle Conservatorium Concert Hall). Featuring St Lawrence String Quartet.

22 Nov 07: Melbourne Town Hall. Featuring Sartory String Quartet.

Oct 07: Albury. Featuring Sartory String Quartet.

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