Yeats Interlude (2018)

Earlier in 2018 I wrote a duo for violin and piano entitled Wild Swans, which transcribed the inflections of a reading of the poem (by actor Peter Thomson) onto the violin.

This short interlude takes the violin piece as a starting point, and develops the ideas further. Fragments of the verses can be heard, couched in instrumental colour which reflects the atmosphere and trajectory of the poem, climaxing with the ascent of the wild swans, and ending with a meditation.

It is written in memory and appreciation of John Manduell, who was a remarkable man and musician, and gave me invaluable support and encouragement from my student days onwards.

The piece was commissioned by John Turner, and was premiered by John Turner, Richard Simpson, and two members of the Villiers String Quartet, as part of a celebration concert for Sir John Manduell at Blythsburgh Church on October 4th, 2018.