Score and parts on special sale from the Hire Library

Little Serenade was one of series of miniatures commissioned in 2004 in celebration of Michael Berkeley's ten years as Director of the Cheltenham Festival. As the concert at which it was first performed, by the Duke Quartet, was a late evening one, it seemed appropriate to write a little serenade. There are three elements to the piece: the opening with its arpeggiated cello pizzicatos, suggesting the serenade's traditional guitar, followed by a rocking motif; the main idea, a simple tune with continuing pizzicato accompaniment; and, at the centre, a cadenza with evening bird calls: the Pastoral Symphony's quail and nightingale, and my own home song thrush which sang much of the time I was composing the piece in May 2004.

© David Matthews