The second concert of the series by the newly formed Albion Quartet presents the theme of ‘Hymns’. Haydn’s Emperor Quartet is named after the famous hymn ‘Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser’, and also marks out the letters of the hymn’s title (GEFDC/k) in the first movement’s theme. Peter Fribbins’s Second Quartet (2005) uses the English hymn ‘Cromer’ through all its movements in a similarly motific way.

Joseph Suk’s Meditation is based on the old Czech St Wenceslas hymn and Dvořák’s famous ‘American’ quartet contains poignant references to the hymns from the small rural chapels at home, and the Spirituals he heard on his travels in America in the 1890s.

FREE Pre-concert foyer performance, 5.45pm
Parallax Saxophone Quartet perform works by Gershwin, Barber, Pierre Lantier and Timothy Blinko.