The Twentieth is my lost quartet.  At the time of writing (27/9/2020), I am reasonably confident that the autographs of Nos. 3, 5, 13, 14 and 19, and the surviving first violin part of No. 1, will at some point turn up in the ongoing clear-out of a staggeringly chaotic loft; and, even if they fail to do so, every one of them could be re-created with a fair degree of fidelity (although No. 13 might take a bit of recomposing).

String Quartet No. 20, however, was composed in a single day, on June 26th 1992, partly to celebrate my 10,000th day (the more fortunate 29th Quartet was in similar fashion the product of my 20,000th) and partly to discover whether such a thing could be done.  Sadly, such rapid gestation leaves very little imprint upon the memory.  I recall the key sequence of the movements (Bb, D, G minor and Bb); the fact that the work began rather unusually with a minuet (a scheme motivated, again, by curiosity); that the slow movement was a set of variations on Happy Birthday To You, the last appearance of which mutated into an extensive quote from Haydn's 88th Symphony; the first four bars of the scherzo; and an eight-bar passage in the finale (3:05-3:12) which I had sketched some three years earlier and which I had been waiting to use.  And that is all that is left of the Twentieth Quartet. 

The autograph short score was one of several works which I left for safekeeping with my parents-in-law before our FCO posting to Malawi in 2001.  It was written on a somewhat outsized sheaf of manuscript paper which would not fit snugly alongside its fellow quartets in the bedside chest of drawers, and so was accommodated instead in a rather chaotic wardrobe.  It was still there in January 2002, which was the last time I ever saw it.  When I made my last visit to the house in August 2004, following the break-up of my marriage, I recovered my other quartets from the drawers; but I was reluctant in the circumstances to make too indelicate an excavation of the wardrobe, and I left it for another time.  Since then my ex-wife, who has always been scrupulously conscientious in the return of property, has made two searches for the piece, but without luck; and, since May 2018, I have reluctantly recognised its probable consignment to oblivion.

In anticipation of such a consignment, I began in April that year an extensive re-composition of the remembered plan.  I started with the slow movement, whose main theme made it by default the most memorable and extensive of the fragments.  The project progressed slowly, and the new quartet was completed on September 26th 2020.  On the whole, I think that it has benefitted from both the work-over and the leisure.  I am pleased with the more sophisticated opening minuet (again, based somewhat loosely on Happy Birthday) and its dark Bb minor Alternativo, and with the scherzo and its two trios; neither movement would have lent itself very readily to the original pace of composition.  And I thoroughly enjoyed composing the finale, and I think it shows.

Should my missing quartet ever by some miracle turn up after all, the current work will be re-designated Number Thirty, and any subsequent quartet composed in the meanwhile will be bumped along one place accordingly.

As far as I can recall, the original quartet rather unusually bore no dedication.  The new version is dedicated to my University friend and fellow-composer Rupert Feld.

String Quartet No. 20, in B flat major (1992, lost; re-composed 2020)

Wanja Belaga

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i am a russian pianist, based in Munich / Germany
i improvise on piano, i comprovise

recorded in march, 2021, Bayreuth
chamber hall, Steingraeber Klaviermanufaktur
The Concert Grand Piano · D-232 Steingraeber
recorded by etage music

Ballade der wundersamen Gefühlsverwirrung

Written by Rupert Feld
Performed by Suzanne Berry (Violin), Jennifer Appleyard (Cello) and Rupert Feld (Piano)

Studies and Impromptus

Piano Trio In C Minor

...alien motions on fire with coriolis demeanor"

Quatuor Bozzini, Montreal 2014

Score: https://britishmusiccollection.org.uk/score/i-saw-these-gaps-explanation-rolling-wheels-contrary-within-themselves-alien-motions-fire

I Saw These Gaps Of Explanation Rolling Like Wheels Contrary Within Themselves...

5'' Run - Off

Special thanks to my patrons, Zoltan, Marie, Sophie, and Erin!
Become my patron here: https://www.patreon.com/rldavennor

Lyrics:
Born of ash, cloaked in fire,
broken free of man's desire
branded flesh by searing claw
Straight into the gaping maw

Bones will snap, wills can bend
Storms will pass and journey’s end
Ebb and flow, give and take
The strongest heart will never break

Dragon's blood born anew
A shroud of green and cloak of blue
Shadowed wings rise and fall
Stolen child, free us all.

Featured in my score collection Lyres, Legends, and Lullabies:
http://mybook.to/lyreslegendslullabies
-----------------------
Composed and Produced by Raelynn Davennor.
Vocals by Raelynn Davennor.
Scored for Voice, Harp, and String Orchestra.

Copyright 2020 Raelynn Davennor, All Rights Reserved.

Website - https://rldavennor.com/
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Soren's Song

About Intermezzo D'Anniversaire by Danae Vlasse: This piece is a Theme and Variations on the famous Op118 No2 Intermezzo by  Johannes Brahms. It develops my favorite 8 measure theme from the original work and was specifically composed in the style of Brahms. The second section in this piece is built on specific pitches such that it incorporates a message for the recipient of the commission "Joyeux Anniversaire Karen" ("Happy Birthday Karen").

Winner: MTAC Composers Today 2014 First Place in Composition "Advanced Work" Category.

Winner: Radio Music Awards 2016 "Best Classical Recording" Category.

The piano score is available for purchase - contact the composer for information! 

PS: A BIG Thank you to Daniel (Zeitfaktor) for his help with re-mastering this audio file! :-)

Intermezzo D'Anniversaire (remastered by Zeitfaktor) :-)

Special thanks to my patrons, Zoltan, Marie, Sophie, Erin, and Kim!
Become my patron here: www.patreon.com/rldavennor

This piece came to me in a single sitting as I imagined a scene in my upcoming fantasy novel, Bloodlust. Rebecca, Alex, and Tristan are spending the evening in the forest, anxiously awaiting the coming morning where they will need to face the human king—and Alex's father. Alex brought with them a lute, as she knows her father enjoys hearing her play and sing, but as she is attempting to practice, she forgets the lyrics to her song, forcing her to hum the melody instead. As she finishes, Rebecca's voice rises from the silence, singing lyrics she made up on the spot as a way to empower Alex to accept her role as the group's leader.

Lyrics:
Fallen princess, lead us, guide us, 
as we face the throne.
Fallen princess, dragons' Eldest,
you are not alone.

Featured in my score collection Lyres, Legends, and Lullabies:
http://mybook.to/lyreslegendslullabies
-----------------------
Composed and Produced by Raelynn Davennor.
Vocals by Raelynn Davennor.
Scored for Voice and Lute.

Copyright 2020 Raelynn Davennor, All Rights Reserved.

Website - https://rldavennor.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/RLDavennor/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/RLDavennor
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rldavennor/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ViU2S2HrTc0XXaOHaWRFw

Fallen Princess

Special thanks to my patrons, Zoltan, Marie, Sophie, and Erin!
Become my patron here: www.patreon.com/rldavennor

Composing in one sitting is becoming more and more common for me, as this piece is another produced in a single afternoon of inspiration. Inspired by a chapter of the same name in my upcoming fantasy novel, Bloodlust.

Featured in my score collection Lyres, Legends, and Lullabies:
http://mybook.to/lyreslegendslullabies
-----------------------
Composed and Produced by Raelynn Davennor.
Scored for Solo Piano.

Copyright 2020 Raelynn Davennor, All Rights Reserved.

Website - https://rldavennor.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/RLDavennor/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/RLDavennor
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rldavennor/
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Enchantress

Uploaded with AudioShare app - http://kymatica.com/audioshare

Rhapsody in A Flat Minor for Piano

A M Bell - String Quartet No 20 (I - Menuetto: Andante con Brio)

A.M.Bell - String Quartet No. 20 (II - Adagio Molto)

A.M.Bell - String Quartet No. 20 (III - Scherzo: Vivace ma non troppo e leggiero)

A.M.Bell - String Quartet No. 20 (IV - Finale: Presto Gioioso)

Fantasie #2 "Schwanengesang" (Swan Song)
by Danaë Xanthe Vlasse

See the music video here! https://vimeo.com/238251818



This composition won an Award of Excellence as well as being awarded an honor for the category of "Listener Impact" from the Global Music Awards!  This was also the 2016 1st place winner of the MTAC advanced division Composer's Today competition! This work was also nominated for the 2016 Hollywood Music In Media Awards.

The piano score is available for purchase - contact the composer for information! 



The Swan's Poem:
"Ivory quills aquiver with a tail destined to pen:
Dust aflutter, down afloat...
An ailing grace lies mourning, despairing, 
Delirious from the  fragrance of the waterlily's fresh palette of nascent pastels.
Fearful of this night's timeless mistress; 
a muse sinister yet seductive with repose in calling cadence to life's thrashing.
Sails heave, whimpering under the weight of their effort,
Resigned toward inevitably succumbing to dusk's siren.
Drops of loneliness glisten along the arc of a sinuous spine, until
Echoes of breath convey feathered spirits into the beams of a sharply setting sphere."

Remastered and available for purchase on this album:
https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/danaexanthevlasse1

Fantasie #2 Schwanengesang (youtube: https://youtu.be/aDiFkb-Zd3A)

Born 1965, lifelong lover of music.  Have been picking out little tunes from 5, and attempting seriously to compose since 12.  Generally (although not exclusively) happiest writing in the manner of late-18thC/early 19thC, but very happy to listen to pretty nearly any music.  String quartets a speciality, although not entirely sure why.  No plans to give up the day job (secondary school Support for Learning Assistant) or the weekend job (Choirmaster at St. Magnus's Cathedral, Kirkwall).

5'' Run - Off

Michael Bell

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