Output details

David Matthews: Fugues

This submission includes both a CD and an edition.

The CD is the first of two volumes of Matthews' music for solo violin; it is built around 15 Fugues which Matthews wrote for Skaerved between 1999-2013. The first fugue (No 9 in the cycle) was the result of a playful banter between the composer and performer after a Bach/Henze concert on the South Bank. It was the success of this piece, played alone, which spurred Sheppard Skaerved to ask for a cycle, mainly completed at the MacDowell Colony in 2002. This is the only significant cycle of fugues for violin alone, and also serves as a series of portraits, from Sheppard Skaerved himself, to figures including Carl Davis, Judith Bingham, Jan Stasny and Matthew's wife, Jenifer Wakelyn.

The challenges posed by these works persuaded Faber Music to release an edition prepared by Sheppard Skaerved, not only giving technical suggestions for performance, but, perhaps more importantly, offering a guide to the broader stylistic and practical approaches.

The Fugues were recorded under the guidance of the composer, for release on the Toccata Classics label. Sheppard Skaerved produced and edited the CD himself. The CD booklet includes his essay about the collaborative process.