Paul Halley String Quartet, Piano at ten

The Program:
1. Dr Paul Halley (b. 1972) A Spring Morning
2. Halley Summer Night
3. Halley Winter
4. Johann Pachelbel (1653 – 1706) Canon in D Major
5. Halley Song of Love
6. Halley The Storm
7. Halley The Fury

Reviewer: Neil Mitchell

From the Programme Notes, prepared by the composer:
“A Spring Morning
This light hearted piece attempts to capture the essence of spring with its lilting melody and light accompaniment. The main theme (which arrives after an introduction) suggests the awakening of spring - animals frolicking, birds singing and the coming back to life after a cold winter.
Summer Night
This piece attempts to capture a hot summer’s night. From the lazy, lethargic opening bars you may be able to imagine a hot, relaxing, steamy summer’s night. The theme after the introductory bars is more energetic and serves as the piece’s main theme. This piece, while not without its drama, has an overall very positive, hopeful feel.
Winter
This piece has two main themes – the opening theme which tries to capture the chilliness in the air and the second theme representing a cold, wintry wind. Listen carefully for passages representing snow falling, a lightning storm, a warm glorious day and the sun coming out after rain. This piece was also used in the short film The Maker and has so far been my most popular piece. www.themakerfilm.com
[Johann Pachelbel (1653 – 1706) Canon in D Major]
Johann Pachelbel’s most famous piece. Thought to have been composed in around 1680, Pachelbel’s Canon continues to enjoy popularity at weddings today, with its tight harmonies and pretty melody.
Song of Love
This piece was written for my beautiful fiancé Kim who has made me the happiest I’ve ever been. Hopefully some of those feelings can be heard in the piece.
The Storm
A fast-paced, action-packed piece, The Storm attempts to capture the powerful energy of a storm and with just a short reprieve in the middle of the piece, representing a lull in the storm. The Storm with its exotic sounds, pulsating rhythms and unrelenting vigour is a tour-de-force of energy and excitement.
The Fury
This is the first string quartet piece I ever started, about 8 years ago. Back then I didn’t really have the skills to finish it, so I put it aside for several years. The piece is based on a simple motif in the key of a minor. The motif reappears throughout the piece in all four instruments. The piece mixes lyrical passages with intensely dramatic sections.”

Reviewer’s comments:
The concert was held before a moderate audience (ca. 69 persons) on a warm, breezy and sunny day. The audience was warm.

As to the programme, some comments are made:
The item by Pachelbel is his most famous work among his few surviving compositions. It is a canon, combined with a chaconne that is replete with subtle variations. This performance was rather detached and began in unison rather than with unaccompanied ‘cello.
The pieces by Dr Halley were not unfamiliar to Bundanoon. All of the pieces – apart from Spring Morning – have been played here before. Many of them have grandiose codas that appear after thorough explorations of lyrical melodies. They required excellent ensemble playing by the quartet, a requirement that was fully met.

Dr Halley is self-described as an autodidact.
In this reviewer’s opinion, Dr Halley should produce a number of suites for string quartet as his gift for melody and his aptitude for adapting form would seem to be well suited to sets of contrasting pieces. Were Dr Halley hungry, he could also become a successful composer of film music.

The reviewer has resisted all temptation to write dental puns, a temptation that has proved irresistible to the Sydney Morning Herald.

General Comments: The artists (Alexandra Loukianova- first violin, Catharina Hughes- second violin, George Kowalik- viola, and Michael Wieczorek- ‘cello) were well-prepared, more than equal to the demands of the program. They played with musical scores. The ensemble work was exemplary, the intonation perfect and the attention to detail was marked. Overall, this was a fine concert of the best international standard by sensitive and collegial musicians who played music that deserves to be heard.

Paul Halley has a web site for those who would like to learn more about his music, buy scores or CDs or to hear examples.