Darragh Morgan - violin
Mary Dullea - piano
Richard Causton - Seven States of Rain
César Franck - Sonata in A for Violin and Piano
I Allegretto ben moderato
II Allegro
III Recitativo, Fantasia
IV Allegretto poco mosso
Concert recorded LIVE at St John's Smith Square on Thursday 3rd December 2020
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Richard Causton Seven States of Rain
This piece invokes the poetry of rain in its various moods and forms; the teasing interplay of the first, sporadic drops; a rapid but heavy irregular sputtering; the overarching fullness of a shower; a very fine rain; the large, warm droplets of a tropical monsoon; its occasional violence; and the grey, eternal, drenching sheets of rain of an afternoon somewhere in England.
The seven interlinked sections contain two basic types of material: isolated points of sound in sections 1 and 2, and continuous, chordal music in 3 and 4. In sections 5, 6 and 7, the two tendencies are combined. Although the roles of the instruments vary from time to time, the piece is conceived as a duet, or a dialogue between equals. To facilitate this, some preparation in the piano brings the sound of the violin and piano closer in timbre. The sections of the piece are as follows:
1 – A plucked violin solo, followed by a passage of quick-fire interplay between the violin and piano; 2 – a very short, quiet section of isolated droplets; 3 – an expansive melody for the violin (now bowed) over crashing piano chords; 4 – a quiet chorale in which the violin and piano continually swap parts; 5 – A multi-layered section involving the return of ideas from section 2, a chordal idea of increasing intensity in the middle range of the piano and a gradual build-up of bass resonance; 6 – this tension is dispelled in a scintillating shower which gradually calms, giving way to; 7 – A chorale for solo piano, associated with the endless, grey rain of an afternoon.
Seven States of Rain is dedicated to Darragh Morgan and Mary Dullea on the occasion of the first wedding anniversary.
Richard Causton
César Franck Sonata in A for Violin and Piano
The concert concludes with another musical wedding gift. Franck composed his Violin Sonata in 1886, when he was 63, gifting it to the Belgian violinist and composer Eugène Ysaӱe as a wedding present. Ysaӱe performed the work at his own wedding and gave its public premiere in December of that year at the Musée Moderne de Peinture in Brussels. Ysaӱe performed the Sonata again frequently, with a number of different pianists, helping to establish both the work itself and Franck’s reputation.
The harmonic structure of the Sonata can be considered proto-progressive. Instead of implementing a progressive tonality whereby one starts a piece in one key and ends in another, as in Mahler’s Second Symphony and Bach’s St Matthew Passion, Franck does the opposite. He immediately undermines the assumed tonic and then uses the latter movements to ‘right’ the tonality. It is also noteworthy that Franck decides to subvert traditional sonata tempi in favour of a relatively sedate first movement and a fast second movement, the opposite of what the listener may expect to hear.
The opening movement introduces the motif that pervades the remainder of the work, one that is developed to an extent that it becomes both the melody and foundation. The motif, which is developed and transformed throughout, consists of major 9th built from ascending and descending thirds. The triadic nature of this motif creates a rocking melody that complements the harmonic structure of the Sonata as it explores distant modulations before returning to the ‘tonic.’ Creating organic relationships between the melodic material and the movements themselves is characteristic of Franck’s compositional style as is his use of the ‘chord pair’. This device, which was heavily influenced by Wagner’s juxtaposition between two harmonically unrelated chords by way of part movement, can be described as two immediate soundings of the same chord, the second of which is slightly altered and stressed. This device, which is often associated with his use of Iambic rhythm, gives the impression of a sforzando on the second chord. This technique can be heard throughout the Sonata and bears a certain similarity to the use of the Tristan chord in Wagner’s opera Tristan und Isolde.
Darragh Morgan
Described by The Strad Magazine as ‘hugely impressive, he plays with seemingly effortless control’ Irish violinist Darragh Morgan was born in Belfast in 1974. A renowned exponent of contemporary music, Darragh has appeared as a soloist at Aldeburgh Festival, Philips Collection Washington DC, Wiener Konzerthaus, Spitalfields Festival, Osterfestival Tirol and BBC Proms Chamber Music. His numerous concerto appearances with The Ulster Orchestra include the world premiere of ‘Hymn of Dawn’ by Sir John Tavener which he also performed with Istanbul Symphony Orchestra. With National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland he has toured Beethoven Triple Concerto, recorded ‘Elastic Harmonic’ by Donnacha Dennehy for NMC Recordings and also premiered Brian Irvine’s ‘A Mon Seul Desir’. With RTE Concert Orchestra and London Musici/Rambert Dance Company he has given over 40 performances of ‘Tabula Rasa’ by Arvo Pärt (including in the presence of the composer). Darragh gave the South African premiere of Barber Violin Concerto with the KZN Philhamonic Orchestra. Other concerto appearances have included Kölner Kammerorchester and Cyprus Symphony Orchestra. He has collaborated with such distinguished musicians as Thomas Adès, Emmanuel Pahud, Darius Brubeck, Joanna MacGregor, John Tilbury, Mícheál Ò Súilleabháin and David Holmes.
A passionate chamber musician Darragh is founder member of ‘the virtuosic Fidelio Trio’ (Sunday Times). They were shortlisted for the Royal Philhamonic Society Awards Ensemble Prize and have received Gramophone Magazine Editor’s Choice for their recordings. The trio have appeared at prestigious venues around the globe including Shanghai Oriental Arts Centre, Wigmore Hall, Purcell Room Southbank Centre, Casa da Musica Porto, National Sawdust New York, Morrison Artist Series San Francisco, Princeton Sound Kitchen, Andy Warhol Museum Pittsburgh, National Centre for Performing Arts Mumbai, Beijing Modern Music Festival, National Concert Hall Dublin, Kilkenny Arts Festival, Brighton, Cheltenham and Vale of Glamorgan Festivals. They have collaborated with actor Adrian Dunbar, writer Alexander McCall-Smith and poet Sinead Morrissey.
Darragh was for a number of years violinist with the award winning Smith Quartet, praised by The Guardian as ‘Britain’s answer to the Kronos’. Highlights of his time with The Smiths included appearances with Rokia Traore at Peter Sellars New Crowned Hope Festival at The Barbican, Bang on a Can Marathon New York, two sold out concerts at Seoul Arts Centre, Maerz Musik Berlin, ten performances of the music of Morton Feldman with pianist John Tilbury at Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival (shortlisted for an RPS Award), Steve Reich 75th Birthday Concerts, Kevin Volans 60th Birthday at The Wigmore Hall and many acclaimed albums including the first ever complete recording of Philip Glass String Quartets for Signum Classics.
Darragh regularly leads London Sinfonietta including recently at The Esplanade Singapore and Venice Biennale. He has appeared as leader of Ensemble Modern at Lucerne Festival, Sciarrino’s ‘Macbeth’ at Festival d’automne Paris, Klangspuren Schwaz, Tongyeong International Music Festival and at the Alte Opera Frankfurt. He has also appeared with Musik Fabrik in the world premiere of ‘La Passione’ by Louis Andriessen and ‘Shelter’ by Michael Gordon, Julia Wolfe and David Lang. Darragh has worked closely with conductors including Oliver Knussen, Pierre Boulez, Francois Xavier Roth, John Eliot Gardiner, Heinz Holliger, En Shao and Paul Daniel. He has appeared as guest leader of Aurora Orchestra, The Philharmonia, RTE National Symphony Orchestra, Macau Orchestra, Les Siecles and Athelas Sinfonietta, Remix Ensemble, BCMG and Red Note Ensemble. Darragh has been invited to direct European Union Chamber Orchestra and 2004-2005 was Artistic Director of Baroque 2000, South Africa’s premiere period instrument ensemble
Special composer associations have included Michael Finnissy’s Violin Sonata and the recording of his complete Violin and Piano repertoire for Metier, commissioning Kevin Volans Piano Trio No 3 ‘Le Tombeau des Regrets’ and recording his first piano trio for NMC, recording Philip Glass Trios for Orange Mountain Music, Chris Newman violin concerto ‘Free Standards’, much music by Joe Cutler including his violin concerto ‘Macedonia’, Richard Causton’s Seven States of Rain which he recorded for his NMC debut album ‘Opera’ alongside music by Joseph Phibbs, Gerald Barry’s chamber music recorded for Mode Records, Andrew Poppy’s Violin Concerto with Crash Ensemble, Steve Reich ‘Double Sextet’ Recording with Ekkozone which was awarded a Diapason D’or Award, Michael Nyman complete piano trios for MNR as well as works by Robert Fokkens, Judith Weir, Tansy Davies and Howard Skempton. He has recorded over 50 chamber music and solo albums for NMC, Resonus, Delphian, Signum, Diatribe, Metier, Da Capo, Centaur, Naxos and Col Legno.
Darragh has been a member of the string teaching faculty at Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and chamber music faculty at Royal College of Music.
He has been invited to give masterclasses at Curtis Institute, Peabody Conservatory, San Francisco Conservatory, Yong Tew Conservatory Singapore, Central Conservatory Beijing and summer faculty at Britten-Pears Young Artist Programme and Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music, New Hampshire, USA.
Darragh regularly records for soundtracks at Abbey Road Studios and Air Lyndhurst Studios. Credits include Children of Men, Steve Jobs, Spiderman, Shazam, Edge of Tomorrow, Merlin, Poldark, Downton Abbey, Call the Midwife, The Crown and Spice Girls, Deep Purple, Sigur Ros, The Corrs, Paul McCartney, The Hours and Divine Comedy.
Darragh studied at Guildhall School of Music & Drama with Detlef Hahn, and often in masterclasses with Yehudi Menuhin, Pinchas Zukerman, Pierre Amoyal, Mauricio Fuks, Paul Zukofsky and the Takacs and Amadeus String Quartets.
Darragh plays an 1848 Giuseppe Rocca violin, generously on loan from the Morgan-Rocca Instrument Trust which is administered by The Royal Society of Musicians and a bow by Joseph Alfred Lamy. Darragh is married to pianist of Fidelio Trio Mary Dullea, with whom he often performs and records duo repertoire. They live in North London with their two children.
Mary Dullea
As soloist and chamber musician, Irish pianist Mary Dullea leads a diverse performance career internationally. Her frequent broadcasts include BBC Radio 3, Radio 4, RTHK, RTÉ Lyric FM, WQXR, Radio New Zealand and Sky Arts, Irish, French, Austrian and Italian television. Concerto appearances include RTÉ Concert Orchestra, RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra and KZN Philharmonic Orchestra. Of her multiple CD releases, recent collaborations include premiere recordings of Philip Glass for Orange Mountain Music, Kevin Volans Piano Trio No. 3 Le Tombeau des Regrets, a Gerald Barry portrait CD of solo piano and chamber music and, on Divine Art Métier, solo piano music from Iran by composers Amir Mahyar Tafreshipour and Hormoz Farhat and 'Pieces for Pianists' by Manchester composer Eric Craven, their fourth collaboration.
A sought-after interpreter of new music, Mary’s expansive repertoire covers the standard piano literature as well as an ever-increasing amount of 20th- and 21st- century compositions, many of which are dedicated to her. Her piano trio, Fidelio Trio, are passionate advocates for piano trio repertoire around the world. They were shortlisted for the Royal Philhamonic Society Awards Ensemble Prize and have been Gramophone Magazine Editor’s Choice for their recordings. The trio have appeared at prestigious venues around the globe including Shanghai Oriental Arts Centre, Wigmore Hall, Purcell Room Southbank Centre, Casa da Musica Porto, Morrison Artist Series San Francisco, Andy Warhol Museum Pittsburgh, National Centre for Performing Arts Mumbai, Beijing Modern Music Festival, National Concert Hall Dublin, Kilkenny Arts Festival, Brighton Festival, Cheltenham Festival and Gümüşlük International Classical Music Festival. They have collaborated with actor Adrian Dunbar, writer Alexander McCall-Smith and poet Sinead Morrissey. Constantly commissioning new works, composers that the Trio have worked closely with include Johannes Maria Staud, Donnacha Dennehy, Joe Cutler, Judith Weir, Piers Hellawell, Ann Cleare and Charles Wuorinen, to name but a few.
Mary was the curator of Soundings (an annual UK/Austrian collaborative new music festival) at the Austrian Cultural Forum London from 2008 to 2016. She has served on the jury of ‘Schubert und die Musik der Moderne’ International Chamber Music Competition in Graz, Austria. In 2014 she founded 'Chamber Music on Valentia' an annual chamber music festival in Co. Kerry, Ireland, with the aim of bringing chamber music performances of international standing, innovative programming and outreach and engagement programmes to this unique place.
Mary’s own studies were at The Royal College of Music, London on the Edith Best Scholarship, Goldsmiths, University of London (MMus in Contemporary Music Studies) and her PhD in Performance is from Ulster University. Mary was on the piano faculty of Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama for 9 years. She previously held the position of Director of Performance at University of Sheffield and since 2015 she has held this position at Royal Holloway, University of London where she is also Reader in Music.