THE MACNAGHTEN STRING QUARTET: Anne Macnaghten (violin); Elise Desprez (violin); Beryl Scawen Blunt (viola); Olive Richards (violoncello)
MARIE RODKER (contralto)
QUARTET
Fantasia Matthew Locke (1630-1677), transcribed and edited by Andre Mangeot Fancy
John Ward, transcribed and edited by Andre Mangeot
The only chamber music of Locke's published in his lifetime was the ' Little Consort of three parts ' (consisting of ten trio suites for violins and viols). It appeared in 1656. His more important 'Consort of ffoure Parts', from which this 'Fantasia' is taken, bears no date and was published only a few years ago. It consists of six suites - composed of 'fantasia', 'courante', 'ayre' and 'saraband' - scored for treble violin and alto, tenor and bass viols.
'Its importance lies in the fact that here Locke made a unique attempt to write the classical English form of the fantasia, with the modern one of the suite', comments Dr. Colles. 'Roger North spoke of these fantasias as the last of their kind, but a truer view would regard them as a pioneer attempt to extend the fantasia in the direction of the grouped movements which subsequently became the basis of the sonata.'
Very little is known of John Ward, fine composer though he was, beyond the fact that in 1613 he published his 'First Set of English Madrigals, apt both for Viols and Voyces', and dedicated the work, 'To the Honorable Gentleman, and my very good Maister, Sir Henry Fanshawe, Knight'. Ward's best work was done in the madrigal field, but he also wrote church music fantasias for viols, and pieces for the virginals. His most attractive string compositions are the 'Fancies' for 4, 5 and 6 viols, which remained in manuscript in the library of Christ Church, Oxford, unknown for three centuries. The piece to be played this afternoon is a first-rate example of Ward's art.
MARIE RODKER
Die Georgine (The Dahlia).... Strauss
Hat dich die Liebe beruhrt (If Love hath entered thy heart) Joseph Marx
Wiegenlied (Cradle Song). .Kolleritsch Finsteres Gesicht (Gloomy
Countenance) I Otto Siegl
Wie bald (How soon)
QUARTET
String Quartet in D (K.575). .Mozart
