Elégie (in memoriam Joan Dickson)
- Instrumentation
- Cello, Piano
- Composed
- 1994
- Duration
- 5'20''
- Publisher
- SJ Music
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About this piece
Caroline Bosanquet wrote this Elégie for cello and piano at the end of 1994. It is in memory of the Scottish cellist and teacher Joan Dickson (1921–1994), Bosanquet's friend and colleague, with whom she had given courses for cello teachers. The publisher's note says the final phrases 'are played entirely as harmonics on the C string'. Shortly before she died, Dickson had written to Bosanquet that she did not understand harmonics, and was glad Bosanquet had written a book explaining them. The composer has written that because harmonics 'have been in existence since the beginning of time, and always will go on to the end of time, they represent eternity'. It is Bosanquet's best-known composition and is widely played because it is set for ABRSM Grade 8. It was recorded by Catherine Wilmers (cello) and Simon Marlow (piano) on Cello Century of British Women Composers (ASV, 2000). SJ Music publishes the score and part (catalogue D1995-6).
Technical overview
A single lyrical slow movement of about five and a half minutes for cello and piano. The publisher says the closing phrases are played entirely as natural harmonics on the C string; the rest of the cello writing could not be checked against a score.