The aim of Solem Quartet was to commission and promote new works from two composers: Jasmine Morris and David John Roche, as part of their ongoing project Beethoven Bartok Now (BBN) with the support from The Radcliffe Trust.
Jasmine’s work, Hitogata, was performed with Jasmine herself on electronics and string players and dancers from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. It was performed in the round to a full audience at Blackheath Halls.
The premiere of the Roche took place at Kettle’s Yard. His piece, A Prayer at the Edge of Silence, has subsequently been performed five times around the country including at the Tung Auditorium in Liverpool, Conway Hall, Buxton International Festival, and live on BBC Radio 3.
The Solem Quartet intend to keep performing these commissioned works and incorporate them into their regular repertoire.
The audience has been extremely positive and many requests to record David John Roche’s piece have been received. David John Roche has described the time with The Solem Quartet as a milestone in his career.
The Solem Quartet are proud to have added these two works to the canon of the contemporary string quartet genre.
Photo students from Trinity-Laban Conservatoire
Photo credit: Matthew Johnson