Fretwork

3 Sonnets & 2 Fantasias, for counter-tenor and 5 viols. 2000

Sonnet CXIV (Let me not to the marriage of true minds) by Shakespeare

The Silken Tent by Robert Frost

Sonnet LXXVI (Why is my verse so barren of new pride?) by Shakespeare

Commissioned by the the Cheltenham Festival and Fretwork, with funds generously provided by the Britten Pears Foundation, it was first performed at the Cheltenham Festival in June 2000.

The three sonnets are interspersed with two fantasias. In the first and third sonnet, the voice is accompanied by four viols (tr, t, t, b); while the Silken tent is scored for voice and three viols (tr, tr, t). Fantasia 1 is scored for five viols (tr, tr, t, b, b) and Fantasia 2 for five viols (tr, t, t, b, b).

Published by Schott Ltd. London.

from Shadow of Night for counter-tenor and 5 viols. 2010

The Shadow of Night by George Chapman