Robin Stevens particularly enjoys the challenge of writing for 'Cinderella' instruments and ensembles, which are those with a low profile and limited repertoire, such as tuba quartet or solo double bass.
Performer Biography
The Behn Quartet gave the world premiere of Sir Peter Maxwell Davies's final work at his Memorial Concert and have recorded chamber works by Maxwell Davies, Stravinsky, and Birtwistle.
Composition History
The String Quintet in C minor was Robin Stevens's first major composition, written in his early twenties while he was completing an MA at Birmingham University.
Composer Biography
Robin Stevens, the composer, grew up in an artistic family; his mother was pianist Gillian Butterworth and his step-father was Welsh landscape artist John Elwyn.
Performer Biography
The Behn Quartet, named after 17th-century playwright Aphra Behn, is an international ensemble with members from England, the Netherlands, Portugal, and New Zealand.
Composer Biography
Robin Stevens suffered from a debilitating illness for seventeen years, from 1990 to 2007, which severely restricted his compositional activity.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Robin Stevens's mature compositional style is characterized by Beethovenian motivic development, rhapsodic lyricism, bold dramatic gestures, tangy harmonies, intricate counterpoint, and direct expression.
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