<<  -- 3 --  Gordon Rumson    THE TIDE IS TURNING

The Second Quartet, written in 1975 is in a demanding serial style, while the Third, written in 1989, follows a different course. By that time ApIvor had relinquished serial methods and pursued a process of simplification. Patrick Harrex says 'The performers recognize the challenges of the music but have responded with enthusiasm to these fine works. The depth of musical invention far outweighs the technical issues involved.'

It is hard to imagine that a composer of Denis ApIvor's achievements can have been neglected, but evidently the tide is turning. With more performances, essays and reviews appearing, Denis ApIvor's creativity can begin to be measured. There is so much music to be heard (far too many works even await their première). Further, ApIvor's reach was broad and Dr Marrington finds his contributions to British music diverse, with a large body of songs in the 1930s, the setting of 'difficult' poets such as T S Eliot and Dylan Thomas, along with his remarkable contribution to the repertoire for the guitar. But, according to Marrington, ApIvor also persevered in 'exploring serial techniques in the 1940s and 1950s when there was still hostility to the method.' ApIvor created 'highly expressionistic' theatrical works in the 1950s and then later applied Webern-esque techniques to theatre as well.

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