The Good Spirit of a Left Cause (2020)
for violin and piano
On the 50th anniversary of Stefan Wolpe's death; for Lesley Larkum to play
Publisher: Bardic Edition
Available from Goodmusic Publishing
Score and Part BDE in preparation
Duration: c. 3 1/2 minutes
Programme note
The Good Spirit of a Right Cause is a tiny musical agitprop gem with a tongue-in-cheek ambivalence, as though Wolpe wasn't sure of finding a "good spirit" or "right cause" in the depths of World War 2". It was originally the first of five projected 'Encouragements', works directly connected to the fight against fascism, and also recalling Wolpe's proletarian works of the early 1930s. The third of these 'Encouragements', Battle Piece (1943-1947), grew enormously into an independent piece, needing no further encouragement. Wolpe scholar Austin Clarkson has described The Good Spirit of a Right Cause as a March-Fantasy - probably more fantasy than march, given its somewhat directionless quality. I adapted the title for a short piece which was my contribution to a programme of 'proletarian' violin and piano duos that Lesley Larkum and I planned as far back as 1999 - but has yet to be given. This piece was completed in the 50th anniversary year of Stefan Wolpe's death.
for violin and piano
On the 50th anniversary of Stefan Wolpe's death; for Lesley Larkum to play
Publisher: Bardic Edition
Available from Goodmusic Publishing
Score and Part BDE in preparation
Duration: c. 3 1/2 minutes
Programme note
The Good Spirit of a Right Cause is a tiny musical agitprop gem with a tongue-in-cheek ambivalence, as though Wolpe wasn't sure of finding a "good spirit" or "right cause" in the depths of World War 2". It was originally the first of five projected 'Encouragements', works directly connected to the fight against fascism, and also recalling Wolpe's proletarian works of the early 1930s. The third of these 'Encouragements', Battle Piece (1943-1947), grew enormously into an independent piece, needing no further encouragement. Wolpe scholar Austin Clarkson has described The Good Spirit of a Right Cause as a March-Fantasy - probably more fantasy than march, given its somewhat directionless quality. I adapted the title for a short piece which was my contribution to a programme of 'proletarian' violin and piano duos that Lesley Larkum and I planned as far back as 1999 - but has yet to be given. This piece was completed in the 50th anniversary year of Stefan Wolpe's death.
