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Solem Quartet           18th April 2022    St. Augustine’s Church Map

This is the first of our ensembles this season in which the line up of the performers reflects our theme of relationships within families.  Amy and Stephanie are sisters and have been making music together for as long as either of them can remember.  William and Stephanie are also a couple within the quartet – all manner of synergies are clearly a part of the quartet’s social dynamic!

The first half of the programme is made up of music all of which is resonant with family associations.  Clara Schumann, managing her extraordinary life as virtuoso concert pianist, occasional composer and full-time mother and wife, was obliged to publish her works under the name of her husband Robert.  In a similar way Felix Mendelssohn published songs by his older sister Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel under his own name.  In 1847, the year of her death, Fanny had much correspondence with Clara and there can be no doubt that there was plenty of discussion between them concerning the role of a female composer in the patriarchal society of 19th Century Europe.  Felix’s E flat quartet was completed in February 1838, the year his first born son Carl arrived.  Newly married, achieving great success with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra and now blessed with a child, these were very contented times for the young 29 year old composer.

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Amy Tress – violin

William Newell  – violin

Stephen Upshaw – viola

Stephanie Tress – cello

Clara Schumann –Three Romances Op 22 (arr. Amy Tress)

Robert Schumann – Child Falling Asleep Op 15 No.12 from Kinderszenen (arr. William Newell)

Felix Mendelssohn – String Quartet No.5 in E flat Op 44 No.3

Ludwig van Beethoven – Quartet No.12 in E flat Op 127