Ffeil NLW ex 3047 - Cantilena e Scherzo for String Quartet and Harp by Gian Carlo Menotti

Autograph manuscript by Osian Ellis, harpist and composer, of 'Cantilena e Scherzo for String Quartet and Harp' by Gian Carlo Menotti, copied by him from the manuscript and with his detailed markings and corrections and annotations throughout, this being almost certainly the copy used by him in preparation of the first performance. Accomplished in black, blue and purple ink, and pencil. The Cantilena and Scherzo was first performed at Alice Tully Hall (New York, Lincoln Center) on March 15, 1977 by Osian Ellis, James Buswell (violin), Ani Kavafian (violin), Walter Trampler (viola) and Leslie Parnas (cello). The work has its roots in Ravel’s Introduction and Allegro and Debussy’s Danse sacrée et danse profane, but instead of separating the two movements, Menotti frames the Scherzo with the Cantilena’s lyrical material, creating a ternary structure. The very choice of the word ‘Cantilena’ betrays Menotti’s preoccupation with vocal writing, and the result is suitably song-like, full of melodic richness, sustained string writing, and a resonating harp part.