Sally Beamish - A Book of Seasons

A Book of Seasons

Scored for solo violin and four ‘ripieno’ groups of wind, brass, piano/percussion and strings, A Book of Seasons is divided into eight short sections depicting the four seasons and the four elements. The piece is dedicated to my daughter Stephanie Rose, who was born in October 1995. It is intended as an introduction to the world – a brightly coloured picture book – each section a single image simply portrayed.
Sally Beamish

Sally Beamish’s A Book of Seasons, …is a compact little violin concerto simulating a child’s picture book journey through the year. Beamish writes with great clarity, tucking a variety of textures into the music’s easy progression towards a final cheeky dig at the Rite of Spring.
The Birmingham Post

First performed by BCMG conducted by Stefan Asbury at the Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham on 16 February 1996.