Sally Beamish_Variations on a Theme of Benjamin Britten_EP72799_Score

BEAMISH

Variations on a Theme of Benjamin Britten for String Orchestra

Score

VARIATIONS ON A THEME OF BENJAMIN BRITTEN

When I was eight, my mother took me to a dress rehearsal of Peter Grimes at Sadler’s Wells, where she was playing in the orchestra The experience made a deep impression on me; particularly bumping into Peter Pears, in full costume, when I was looking for my mother backstage

This first encounter with Britten led me to the Sea Interludes to look for a suitable theme for this new piece The theme I’ve chosen comes from the second interlude, Sunday Morning I am also using other thematic and decorative material from this interlude

My mother and I both played the Frank Bridge Variations with the Academy of St Martins, and I was delighted to be asked to write a companion piece for the centenary celebrations I immediately thought of the very special democracy of the Academy – the fact that every player is regarded as a soloist The work is dedicated to Sir Neville Marriner, and celebrates the Academy, exploring its collective virtuosity, and the richness and fullness of its sound There are many solo and chamber passages, and the last players of each section are also featured (a favourite effect of Neville’s!)

Britten’s variations explore various dance forms, and I have loosely echoed this idea After an introductory fanfare and initial statement of the theme, on violas, the first variation takes the form of a ‘barcarole’ – the traditional Venetian boat song – a symbolic spanning of Britten’s operatic output from Peter Grimes to his last opera, almost 30 years later: Death in Venice The ‘quadrille’ is a quirky dance, pitting the upper against the lower strings Later, a ‘requiem’ is for those lost in war – an acknowledgement of Britten’s strongly held pacifist beliefs – and my own

‘Paean’ is a celebratory nod to the opening fanfare of Les Illuminations, perhaps my favourite Britten work, with its juxtaposition of major triads in unrelated keys The piece is brought to a close through an extended ‘passacaglia’, where a theme derived from Britten’s is played eight times, building to a joyful coda

There are of course clear references to Britten, and in some ways this piece is an ‘homage’ But, as Britten did in his variations, I have also referenced other composers, so that the end result is woven from many different elements, held together by Britten’s simple and beautiful theme

Variations on a Theme of Benjamin Britten was commissioned by The Academy of St Martin in the Fields, and first performed by them at Turner Sims, Southampton, on 9th May, 2013, directed by Stephanie Gonley

– Sally Beamish 2013

INSTRUMENTS

Violin I (min. 3 players)

Violin II (min. 3 players)

Viola (min. 3 players)

Cello (min. 3 players)

Double Bass (min. 2 players)

Duration: c. 18 minutes

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Sally Beamish

Sally Beamish (b. 1956) studied viola at the Royal Northern College of Music before focusing on composition and moving to Scotland, where she lived for many years. Her music embraces many influences, particularly jazz and Scottish traditional music, and she has written for numerous soloists including Steven Isserlis, James Crabb, Håkan Hardenberger, Branford Marsalis and Tabea Zimmermann. Her string quartet for the Elias Quartet, Reed Stanzas, received its premiere at the 2011 BBC Proms and won a Royal Philharmonic Society Award. In 2018 Beamish was awarded the British Composer Award for Inspiration in recognition of her long and distinguished career.

Sally Beamish (*1956) studierte zunächst Viola am Royal Northern College of Music, ehe sie sich der Komposition zuwandte und nach Schottland zog, wo sie viele Jahre lang lebte. Ihre Musik vereint vielfältige Einflüsse, insbesondere aus dem Jazz und der schottischen Volksmusik. Sie schuf zahlreiche Werke für Solisten wie Steven Isserlis, James Crabb, Håkan Hardenberger, Branford Marsalis und Tabea Zimmermann. Ihr Streichquartett Reed Stanzas für das Elias Quartet wurde 2011 bei den BBC Proms uraufgeführt und mit einem Royal Philharmonic Society Award ausgezeichnet. In Anerkennung ihrer langen und erfolgreichen Laufbahn wurde Beamish im Jahr 2018 der British Composer Award für Inspiration verliehen.

Photo © Ashley Coombes