Joe Fuller: Entertainment

Under 25s can go free to some beautiful string music

The Strings Attached series at Brighton Dome has been integral in fostering my love for chamber music, particularly the towering beauty of the string quartet. Tonight the 16/17 series opens at the Corn Exchange, featuring a generous breadth of composers ranging from the more formal Haydn (the ‘Lark’ quartet) to the spikier Béla Bartók.

Bartók’s String Quartet No.4 (composed in 1928) is a modern piece: which means you might be more inclined to like it if you like your music of the more experimental bent. Schubert’s Quartettsatz, D703 is a lovely, fairly simple first single movement of a quartet; the rest of it was never finished so it only lasts about 10 minutes.

Debussy’s sole String Quartet (in G minor) was composed in 1893 and people didn’t know what to make of it. It drew praise from some quarters but others criticised its “orgies of modulation”, which seems more like praise to me anyway: the piece is brimming with variations and melodic ideas.

Some criticised its orgies of modulation

The Doric String Quartet are considered the leading British string quartet of its generation, who burst onto the scene with an average age of 20 in January 2002. It will be fascinating to hear how 15 years of playing together has enhanced their dynamics and understanding of one another.

This performance is part of the CAVATINA scheme where young people aged 8-25 can get free tickets (arranged beforehand with the Dome). Any curious bairns should try out the Debussy, be moved and then come to the concert for free. If you don’t enjoy it you can find me and explain why: if I’m convinced you’re being honest then we can duel outside.

Doric String Quartet, Corn Exchange, Brighton Dome,
Tues 20 September, Free–£18.50, www.brightondome.org