Stephen Brown String Quartet No 1: ‘An Tremenyas’ (2012) 1 Kovyow (memories). Andante-Più mosso a passo veloce (Gwra Mos Dyworth An Fenester)- Andante - Più mosso a passo veloce (Can De Hala May) - Tempo primo - Più mosso a passo veloce (An Awhesyth - Naw Map Harth - An Awhesyth) - Tempo primo - accel. e segue… 2 Dos Tre (coming home). Allegro - L'istesso tempo (Egloshayle Ringers/Helston Furry) - Piu mosso (Egloshayle Ringers) - A tempo. Although there are two movements, they are played without a break. The form is very loosely that of an original theme and variations, between which are inserted some arrangements of Cornish folk melodies, which in turn sometimes intrude on the variations. The short theme appearing at the beginning, has two parts: a nostalgic/pastoral statement followed by a distant, reflective reply. A brief exploration of the opening material quickly leads to the first folk- song which is from Padstow, called Gwra Mos Dyworth An Fenester (Begone From The Window), presented in one straightforward verse followed by a more complex arrangement. There follow some longer variations on the theme between which are inserted versions of the Padstow Obby (Can De Hala May) and later The Lark (An Awhesyth) combined with Nine Brave Lads (Naw Map Harth). An assertive restatement of the theme leads to a bridge passage speeding directly into the scherzo-like more light-hearted second movement in 6/8 time. This is mostly still a variation on the opening theme of the first movement, with some new material appearing before the Helston Furry attempts to break out with the help of the viola, but is constrained by a simultaneous variation on the maypole dance Egloshayle Ringers, the latter then being presented in a faster more complete version, followed by a short coda. (Notes by Stephen Brown)