By Samuel Applebaum. Edited by Thom Proctor. String method/supplement (Violin). Level: book 3. 36 pages. Published by Belwin.

Celtic / Irish, Perfect binding, World. Sacred. Book and online audio. 108 pages. Mel Bay Publications, Inc #31036M. Published by Mel Bay Publications, Inc

Violin

SKU: ST.Y228

Composed by Rhian Samuel. String music. Score. Stainer & Bell Ltd. #Y228. Published by Stainer & Bell Ltd. (ST.Y228).

ISBN 9790220221712.

Shards of Light is dedicated to Gyorgy Pauk, and is of Grade 8 to diploma standard. The contrast between its atmospheric main idea of fleet, ethereal figurations high on the E-string and more spiky and aggressive material suggests the image of its title, in music contemporary in sound yet accessible in feeling.

Like other instrumental works by Rhian Samuel, Shards of Light combines exciting instrumental virtuosity with a strongly poetic impulse, and is a most effective addition to the repertoire of new violin music, whether as an examination test-piece or as recital material.

Violin

SKU: ST.Y274

Composed by Morgan Hayes. String music. 3 minutes. Score. Stainer & Bell Ltd. #Y274. Published by Stainer & Bell Ltd. (ST.Y274).

ISBN 9790220223358.

1st perf: Keisuke Okazaki, Tokyo Opera City Recital Hall, Tokyo, Japan, 22 April 2008
1st UK perf: Darragh Morgan, Schott Recital Room, Bauer & Hieber, London, 5 February 2009

Though the jagged figures and phrases of Lucky's Dream by Morgan Hayes are unmistakably those of a contemporary musical expressionist, the shadow of Bach also falls on this work, inspired by the virtuosity of the young Japanese soloist Keisuke Okazaki and his playing of the E major Partita.

In fact, though 'standard' contemporary techniques are widely used in the piece - left-hand pizzicato, harmonics and microtones, all deployed in edgy, unpredictable rhythms - there is also a classical shape to the structure. In this two-part form, lasting around four minutes, the first section is reflective, dwelling on single notes, phantoms as it were of pitches that are subtly deflected through slow glissandi. Then a spectral dance ensues, delivered largely on plucked strings, ethereal, disembodied, strange.

The 'Lucky' in question is a character from Samuel Beckett's play Waiting for Godot, and Lucky's Dream is a complementary work to the earlier, impassioned Lucky's Speech (2006). The two items can stand alone or may be performed consecutively. Both are to be found on the recent all-Hayes CD released on the NMC label (NMC D163), which also features the composer's 17-minute Violin Concerto as further evidence for his original approach to writing for the instrument.