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Sentinels

composition
posted on 2023-06-08, 08:02 authored by Martin Butler
Sentinels was written for the Brodsky Quartet and John Metcalfe. An unusual feature of the Brodskys' performances is that with the exception of the 'cellist, they play standing up; Butler imagined the four standing players to be acting as sentries, standing guard, keeping watch over the seated 'cellist - hence the title. A friend pointed him in the direction of the opening scene of Hamlet - with its sentries, its sinister and slightly surreal atmosphere, its ghost, its uncertainty and apprehensiveness - and the flavour of the piece was fixed. The piece is really a long, unrelenting march whose pulse never slackens or quickens, and in which slightly quirky military-style gestures are almost always present.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Publisher

OUP

Pages

24.0

ISBN

978-0-193-35672-6

Department affiliated with

  • Music Publications

Notes

Work for string quintet, 12 minutes, commissioned by the Brighton Festival for the Brodsky Quartet and John Metcalf, first performed at the Brighton Festival in May, 2006.

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • No

Legacy Posted Date

2012-02-06

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