JS Bach Ricercar a 6 (from Musical Offering)
Sally Beamish Partita, for string octet
Mendelssohn String Octet, Op.20
The Academy of St Martin’s returns to Cambridge in chamber ensemble form for an intimate evening in the newly refurbished Union debating chamber. Mendelssohn’s Octet is adored by audiences and players; Academy violinist Harvey de Souza claiming it “a perfect piece of music – there isn’t a note wasted”, not bad for a 16-year-old at the beginning of his career. Inspired by both Mendelssohn and Bach, Sally Beamish’s Partita borrows themes from both and gives each of the eight Academy players a solo voice.
“The extraordinary thing about this piece is how a 16 year old can give eight individual people a voice, an individual voice, and yet together, literally, write a perfect piece of music; there isn’t a note wasted” Harvey de Souza, violin.