The theme for this is 'instrumental combinations'. Our traditional opening Haydn string quartet isn't included in the theme as we are doing another traditional string quartet later in the programme. Aside from this all pieces have different combinations of instruments.
Violin, Violin, Viola, Cello
Haydn was the father of the string quartet and it is one of the 'Wivelscombe Rules' that everything starts with Haydn. You can play quartets your whole life and still find surprise and delight in one you don't know by Haydn. The movement we have chosen is ...
Violin, Piano, Viola, Cello
Dora Pejačević (1885 – 1923) was an Austro-Hungarian aristocrat who devoted most of her short life to music. Her performances and compositions were admired by many influential musicians and critics during her lifetime, but many remained unpublished. After her death she fell in to the back-bin of underated and under-appreciated composers. Recently there has been a welcome revival of interest in less well known and (particularly) women composers.
Her music is rich, lyrical and inventive. In my view it is considerably more interesting than many better known works from the Romantic canon by people whose name you would instantly recognise.
Piano, Cello
Violin, Piano
Violin, Violin, Viola, Cello