Tempo Review of Sadie Harrison's <em>Gallery</em>

Sadie Harrison's Gallery for solo violin has been described as a most welcome addition to the repertoire by Paul Conway, who has reviewed its first performance in the latest edition of Tempo
Peter Sheppard Skaerved premiered the work at Wilton's Music Hall on 11th October 2013. Paul Conway's review reads,
On 11 October 2013, the charismatic leader of the Quartet, Peter Sheppard Skaerved, gave the world premiere of Sadie Harrison's Gallery, for solo violin (2013). This collection of eleven short pieces is the first in an ongoing series of works inspired by Skaerved's artwork, either in terms of the technique with which they were created, or as a response to the inherent drama and beauty of the subjects. J S Bach's Sonatas and Partitas were invoked by the clarity and purity of Harrison's idiomatic writing and in the timeless, archaic quality of her more study-like movements. Specific effects, such as glissandi and harmonics, were quietly effective and invariably at the service of the ideas, which were strong and memorable. The collection was split into two parts, the second of which contained some especially well-defined miniatures, such as the violent and implacable Nur Pünktlich, the wistful nostalgia of Sheppard's Meadow, and the resolute, folk-like scrubbing of It Rubs Off. Peter Sheppard Skaerved surmounted the various technical demands with insouciant ease and gave a warmly characterful rendering of pieces clearly tailor made for his talents as a communicator. Gallery is a most welcome addition to the repertoire, with a scope and vision sufficient to suggest that even more of its facets might be revealed were other soloists to take it up. It is good news that Harrison has already embarked upon a further collection of these art-inspired, jewel like pieces.
A clip of movement 11, 'It rubs off', can be seen below. Read Peter Sheppard Skaerved's comments on his website.