A great launch for the Hamilton String Quartet

On the last day of September, the Community Theatre in Lamlash was packed with an eager audience, waiting to hear the first-ever performance of Diana Hamilton’s String Quartet. The professional Eumelia Ensemble – Angus Anderson, violin, John Harrington, viola and Sarah Harrington, cello – were joined by an equally talented cellist, Jan Anderson for Diana’s String Quartet, because it is scored for the unusual combination of violin, viola and two cellos.

Angus and John provided a nimble curtain-raiser with the Handel Passacaglia, essentially a lively series of variations, and then were joined by their cellist for a shorter piece written by Diana called Sea-Drift, which was full of atmosphere and movement. The five string players then moved into the main item of the evening – the new quartet.

The warm overall timbre of the two cellos was attractive, and throughout, interesting rhythms set the mood of each movement. Changing time signatures kept the listeners actively intrigued and fascinated. The growing enthusiasm came to a head as the third movement opened with an exotic tango that morphed into an equally seductive quasi-waltz. While being quite complex in its structure, the Quartet was easy and attractive to listen to, and was demonstrated in abundance the all-too-rare quality of ‘catchiness.’ This new work may well find its way onto the standard concert repertoire. The only question now to be asked is, ‘What is the phenomenally talented Diana Hamilton going to do next?’

Further delights were in store as Aileen Wright and John Cruikshank brought their expertise as singers to the programme. Both of them have glorious voices, but in addition, they both sing to an audience as if telling them something and unveiling a delightful story. The final item on the programme was the Piano Quartet in A minor, op.1 by Josef Suk. Here, Diana joined the Eumelia Ensemble as pianist. The empathy between them was miraculous as they watched each other carefully, perfectly matched in every shift of speed and subtle variation of meaning. The Suk is a beautiful piece, full of passion and meaning, and every listener was riveted – but as people drifted out afterwards, full of thrilled conversation, the main topic remained Diana Hamilton. As performer, accompanist, tutor and composer, she is amazing.