by CLIFFORD HARKER
Relayed from
The City Hall, Newcastle-on-Tyne

Conductor, ERNEST W. Goss
FRANCES MORRIS (soprano)
Relayed from the Pavilion, Torquay
IN A LETTER to one of his friends, written about the time when he was composing the A minor String Quartet, Schubert says that he is ' the most unhappy and wretched creature in the world '. The first movement is perhaps rather melancholy in mood, but, at the same time, it has its moments of brightness, and the way in which the first minor theme is later transformed into the major mode has a very comforting effect.
The slow movement is based on a theme from Rosamunde, which is treated meditatively, and the Minuet is reminiscent of the composer's songs ; the Trio, however, has a Hungarian vigour and character running through it, which is one of the few instances where Schubert showed an interest in Hungarian national music.
The last movement has a lightness of touch and happiness of feeling that. serves as an excellent contrast to what has gone before.
, at 4.45