Film excerpts from ‘Identity and the Anxiety of Influence What Does It Mean To Be A Black Composer?’ (re-edited)
Des Oliver Movements 2 & 1 from ‘The Diasporic Quartets (portraits in four movements)’ (world premiere)
Interval
Philip Herbert In Contemplation (world premiere)
Daniel Kidane Foreign Tongues
Dominique Le Gendre Le Génie Humain
Tunde Jegede Quartet No 2 – Reflecting on Beethoven Opus 18 No 2
Beginning with excerpts from the documentary that inspired this concert, then follows Des Oliver’s musical response,The Diasporic Quartets. Consisting of four portrait movements, of which two will be performed today, the piece takes inspiration from the music of each composer and their interactions during filming.
More works for string quartet express each composer’s relationship with heritage and tradition. Tunde Jegede’s second quartet is an authentic synthesis of West African and classical musical traditions. French Caribbean music combined with French classical music and pop suffuse Dominique Le Gendre’s soundworld. Drawing on his Russian and Eritrean heritage, Daniel Kidane brings elements of grime and urban music to his work, while Philip Herbert finds inspiration in African-American spirituals and English pastoral music.
Darragh Morgan violin
Sarah Quinn violin
Anna Bastow viola
Ève-Marie Caravassilis cello
Joyce Lam 