String Quartet No. 2/Symphony in A Minor
His Symphony in A minor (1892–1898) was rejected by publishers in its original form, and he was told it may receive better press as a string quartet. He did what was suggested, revised the work, and the String Quartet No. 2 in A minor became quite well known.
Until recently it was always played in this form, never in its original conception as a symphony. However, Dr Alasdair Mitchell, conductor and cellist, recently revived the piece in its symphonic form. Over a residential course he prepared it with the Edinburgh Secondary Schools' Orchestra and it premiered on 16 August 2008 at the Edinburgh Central Halls and will be performed for the first time in England on the 4 December 2010 by Durham University Symphony Orchestra.
His "Threnody" quartet was arranged in 2007 for string orchestra, by the Glasgow based musician Gordon Rigby, and has been performed twice by the Scottish Philharmonic Orchestra. Score and parts are available from the Scottish Music Centre.
Read more about this topic: John Blackwood Mc Ewen
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