String Quartet No. 3

Full of character and charm, this lively piece draws on folk influences to create a work that emphasises the importance of the Welsh tradition. The title indicates this also: Llanandras is the Welsh name for Presteigne, the home of the festival that commissioned this piece. Complex rhythms and dance elements are combined with lyrical passages reminiscent of the haunting melodies of the Welsh folk tradition. The use of harmonics, open strings and unison playing reiterate the techniques and unique sound world inhabited by folk music. Commissioned for the 25th Presteigne Festival of Music and the Arts with funds from the Conwinston Charitable Trust, the first performance took place on 25 August 2007 at St. Andrew's Church, Presteigne, performed by the Psophos Quartet.