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Music at Clare Hall: concert to include ‘defining’ chamber work of 20th century

20 February 2023 College life

The second Intimate Engagements concert of this academic year will be given by musicians Jeremy Thurlow, Poppy Beddoe, Henry Chandler and Tim Lowe on 4 March 2023. Here’s a glimpse of what we can look forward to…

Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time is one of the defining chamber works of the 20th century. Composed and premiered in 1941 while Messiaen (pictured above) was a prisoner of war, and inspired by the Book of Revelation, the work consists of eight movements for piano, clarinet, violin and cello – an unusual combination dictated by the musicians he had available in the camp. The string and wind players for this concert are soloists with established careers and a solid knowledge of this music.

Jeremy Thurlow – a member of Clare Hall’s Music Committee – is well known on the Cambridge music scene, both as a pianist and composer. He has taken up the challenge of writing a piece for the same combination, using similar biblical references. The work will be premiered in this concert.

Programme

Jeremy Thurlow – After Seven Thunders

Olivier Messiaen – Quatuor pour la Fin du Temps

Poppy Beddoe, clarinet; Henry Chandler, violin; Tim Lowe, cello; Jeremy Thurlow, piano.

Listen to a studio recording of a movement of the Messiaen Quartet, written for clarinet solo:

Intimate Engagements is a chamber music series in which outstanding musicians accompany their performances with informal presentations, sharing with the audiences their musical journey of the programme performed. The series started in 2008 and has since then established itself as a uniquely enjoyable and stimulating contribution to musical life in Cambridge.

Learn about Music at Clare Hall, and find details of further concerts on our events calendar.