Meditations On A Theme By John Blow / Music For Strings

Introduction "The Lord is my Shepard": "I Will Fear No Evil". Largamente - Agitato in alternation. Woodwind cadenzas accompanied by sheep bells alternating with chromatics on brass.

Meditation I "He leadeth me beside the still waters". Allegro moderato, ma tranquillo; nine-eight time, lightly scored.

Meditation II "Thy rod and staff, they comfort me". Allegro deciso: two-four time

Meditation III "Lambs". Scherzando: dotted-note figure derived from the last phrase of Blow's tune.

Meditation IV "He restoreth my soul". Allegro: extended movement in twelve-eight time

Meditation V "In green pastures". Larghetto: a ternary movement, in which a central section (andante tranquilo) where a drumroll is persistant, is flanked by harp arpeggios. The coda becomes agitated and leads into the interlude.

Interlude "Through the valley of the shadow of death". Molto agitato: scored with much percussion.

Finale "In the house of the Lord". Moderato e deciso. Heralded by bells, Blow's tune arrives in E major ( a tempo un poco maetoso) but leads to a quiet close to the sound of the sheep bells.

First Movement: Allegro Moderato, Energico

Second Movement: Andante, Molto Sostenuto

Third Movement: Allegro Molto - Allegro Con Spirito