The playing of the Presteigne Festival Orchestra lacks nothing in commitment, directed by Vass with unfussy attention to detail.

Gramophone

Beginnings, his late reworking of three early songs, exquisitely handled by the mezzo Rebecca Afonwy-Jones, and Divertimento. There are striking essays by Martin Butler and Joe Duddell, and a most felicitous set of variations on the folk song Lovely Joan.

The Sunday Times

Presteigne Premieres: New Music for String Orchestra

The Presteigne Festival Orchestra, conducted by Artistic Director George Vass, explores a selection of the many new works commissioned by the Festival in this volume of music for string orchestra, including: the collaborative Variations on Lovely Joan (composers Thomas Hyde, Adrian Williams, David Matthews, Michael Berkeley, Christopher Gunning, Huw Watkins, Sally Beamish and Matthew Taylor); Martin Butler’s Concerto for soprano saxophone and strings performed by Amy Dickson; Joe Duddell’s Mnemonic for flute, harp and strings; and Beginnings (Three Early Songs), Op 54 and Divertimento, Op 51, by Hugh Wood.

Amy Dickson (saxophone)
Rebecca Afonwy-Jones (mezzo-soprano)
Katherine Baker (flute)
Suzy Willison-Kawalec (harp)
Presteigne Festival Orchestra
George Vass (conductor)

Tracklist

Variations on Lovely Joan
Thomas Hyde (b.1978)
1. Prelude – Tema – Tema elaborata

David Matthews (b 1943)
2. Variation I: Molto vivace

Adrian Williams (b 1956)
3. Variation II: Adagio molto

Michael Berkeley (b 1948)
4. Variation III: A Frolic for Lovely Joan

Christopher Gunning (1944 – 2023)
5. Variation IV: Andante

Huw Watkins (b 1976)
6. Variation V: Allegretto

Sally Beamish (b 1956)
7. Variation VI: Adagio; very still

Matthew Taylor (b 1964)
8. Variation VII: Finale: Prestissimo

Martin Butler (b 1960)
Concerto for Soprano Saxophone and Strings
9. Lively, but heavy and grounded –
10. Cantilena –
11. Presto

Hugh Wood (1932 – 2021)
Beginnings: Three Early Songs, for mezzo-soprano and string orchestra, Op. 54
12. Tom O’Bedlam’s Song
13. Why East Wind chills
14. O Unicorn among the Cedars 

Joe Duddell (b 1972)
15. Mnemonic, for flute, harp and 
string orchestra

Hugh Wood 
Divertimento, Op. 51
16. Maestoso – Andante, calmo ma con moto
17. Adagietto
18. Allegro molto, feroce