The Instrumental Music of Nicholas Maw: Questions of Tonality

Extract

This year two important new instrumental works by Nicholas Maw have received their first performances: the Serenade for chamber orchestra (Singapore, 31 March) and Life Studies for 15 solo strings (Cheltenham, 9 July). With the Five Irish Songs for mixed chorus (Cork International Choral Festival, 4 May) and a new piano composition (Personae, London, 2 August), 1973 looks like being one of Maw's most productive years. Stylistically it may also prove to have been the most crucial since 1962, when Scenes and Arias was first heard. Even after a single performance, I think there can be no doubt that Life Studies is a remarkable and convincing composition which could inaugurate a new approach by Maw to the whole question of form in instrumental music.