Elaine Agnew’s new piece for violinist Catherine Leonard will be premiered in Sligo shortly.

Slide was commissioned by Con Brio Sligo Music Association and will be performed by Catherine Leonard at the Model Arts and Niland Gallery, Sligo on Friday, 18 February 2005.

The work is made up of three short condensed pieces. The same material forms the basis of each and assures coherence despite the variety of approaches.

The constant motion of the opening movement, Pluck, is pizzicato throughout. This unaccented line contrasts with a jerky, off-beat phrase near the end.

The second, slower movement, Slide, is based on quarter-tones that form unsettled musical intervals. The musical line glides slowly and is occasionally broken by chromatic runs and pizzicato chords.

The final, energetic Take Off! twists and hiccups around the instrument’s four open strings. Heavily accented notes rise up through specific intervallic patterns before a tiny coda, first heard in Pluck, brings Slide suddenly to an end.

Posted: 14 February 2005