O Albion

The first string quartet by Thomas Adès, Arcadiana, has a movement called O Albion that conjures a whole emotional world with seventeen sighing, devotissimo bars. Jim Clements created an arrangement for SSAATTBB voices for vocal group Voces8, recorded in 2018.

Format: Sheet music
Length: 8 pages
Publication date: 09 February 2022
Publisher: Faber Music Ltd

Ever since its premiere in 1994, the first string quartet by Thomas Adès, Arcadiana, has captivated audiences with its evocative portrayals of vanishing, vanished, and imaginary idylls. Among all the movements in the composition, it is the seventh movement, O Albion, that has particularly struck a profound chord with listeners. Comprising seventeen sighing, devotissimo bars, this movement manages to conjure an entire emotional world within just three minutes.

This arrangement for SSAATTBB voices was crafted by Jim Clements specifically for vocal group Voces8, who recorded it for Decca in 2018. It incorporates a line from William Blakes Visions of the Daughters of Albion: "The Daughters of Albion hear her woes, and echo back her sighs." Additionally, a piano part is provided for rehearsal purposes.

The composition's unique blend of musical elements, including the use of sighs and echoes, creates a sense of longing and nostalgia, transporting the listener to a world of imagined landscapes and emotional depths. O Albion has become a standout piece in the repertoire of string quartets, captivating audiences with its powerful and evocative performance.

Dimension: 254 x 176 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780571540938