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Louise Farrenc - Symphony no. 1
Alan Jones - Devariations
Following our playthrough of this work at the Joint Play Day with Wirral Strings last January we have decided to revisit this work by popular demand.
Louise Farrenc (1804-1875) was a French composer, virtuoso pianist and teacher who also made history by fighting for equal pay with her male colleagues when she was appointed Professor of Piano at the Paris Conservatoire. Her Symphony no. 1 is a full-sized, four-movement, Romantic symphony both in terms of duration and emotional expression. The home key is C minor and Farrenc explores its associations with pathétique emotions of passion and pathos as well as Sehnsucht (the quality of yearning more usually associated with German Romanticism).
Alan Jones is a member of our Violin 2 section and studied composition with James Wishart at the University of Liverpool. Devariations has been specially written for the players of Chester Sinfonia. Alan writes, "The name ‘Devaiations’ is a combination of ‘Deva’ the old name of ‘Chester and ‘Variations’. However, it is more re-working of a well-known piece rather than set of variations on a theme. There are three re-workings in different styles which follow one another without a break."
This evening's performance for friends, family and supporters will be followed by our annual picnic in the grounds of St Columba's Church, weather permitting!
