Please find below a small selection of videos. Please also see the Solem Quartet’s YouTube channel.
Videos
Unpacking BBN Ep. 6: Ayanna Witter-Johnson
Ayanna Witter-Johnson introduces ‘Island Suite’, her new commission for the Solem Quartet as part of ‘BBN 4: Experiments’, the fourth part of their Beethoven Bartók Now project. Ayanna discusses how the piece is influenced by her Jamaican heritage, while violist Stephen Upshaw and violinist Amy Tress talk about the experience of playing the music and how it is unlike anything they’ve played before!
20th July (premiere) Wilton’s Music Hall, London
25th July MusicFest Aberystwyth, Aberystwyth
21st October Tung Auditorium, Liverpool
Unpacking BBN Ep. 4: David John Roche
Solem violinist Will Newell chats to composer David John Roche about his piece ‘A Prayer at the Edge of Silence’ composed for BBN 3: Pioneers. Dave talks us through the five movements of this piece – touching along the way on thrash metal, The Simpsons, and the weight of historic composers.
Unpacking BBN Ep. 3: Jasmine Morris
Composer Jasmine Morris talks with Steph about her piece Hitogata, the influence of butoh dance, and how Beethoven’s deafness inspired her writing. You can hear Hitogata as part of Beethoven Bartók Now: Song & Dance, premiering at Blackheath Halls on February 17th 2022.
Solem Quartet plays Kate Bush
And Dream of Sheep (Arr. W. Newell for String Quartet)
Beethoven op.130 Finale
Recorded live by Wimbledon International Musical Festival. With thanks to WIMF Festival Director, Anthony Wilkinson, and Apple and Biscuit Recordings.
Unpacking BBN Ep. 1 Night Music in Bartók Quartet No. 5
Join the Solem Quartet – Amy, Will, Stephen and Steph – as they talk & play through the central three movements of Béla Bartók’s Quartet No. 5 (1934).
Byrd: Kyrie from Mass for Four Voices
Filmed at St Giles Church, Camberwell