violin

Inspired by a poem by George Meredith, “The Lark Ascending” is one of Ralph Vaughan Williams’ most beloved works.

“The weaving, soaring violin melody that opens Australian composer Arthur Benjamin’s Sonatina for Violin and Piano immediately beguiles the listener and attests to Hubert Howells’ description of Benjamin as ‘an unashamed Romantic,’ writes Angus McPherson.

Bartók incorporates “elements of Hungarian peasant songs into his own, complex harmonic language,” writes Angus McPherson.

“The guitar makes the dreams weep,” Poulenc inscribed above the central movement of his Violin Sonata, completed under Nazi occupation.

“In keeping with the 19th-century ‘Romance’ form, the pieces are short and lyrical, and the first in the set is particularly tender – even melancholy – with the violin and piano equal, empathetic partners,” writes Angus McPherson.

“As I listen to the music and write these notes, I’m sitting outside on my deck, absorbing the sights and sounds of this lush springtime amongst rural bliss. The garden is flourishing and fragrant, wildlife abounds and the boronia and roses form a beautiful foreground to the mountains in the distance.” – Leanne Bear, CSO Violin

LLEWELLYN ONE THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS Wednesday 31 March / Thursday 1 April 2021, 7.30pm, Llewellyn…

CSO GALA CSO AT THE CINEMA Saturday 7 August 2021, 7.30pm, Llewellyn Hall, ANU Matthew…

CLASSIC AFTERNOON THE ELEMENTS Saturday 19 June 2021, 2pm, Llewellyn Hall, ANU Kirsten Williams Director, Violin Grace WILLIAMS…

“Good music should go beyond just sounding beautiful. The pieces in this mixtape elicit memories, inspire me to be a better person, or just feel so real I can nearly feel the notes! Many of these works were inspired by stories or historical events. Others elicit personal, visual landscapes associated with particular memories from when I first heard them. My hope is that these pieces help you to find time to recall and enjoy past memories, or find new inspiration in your future endeavours.”