The tiny Herefordshire village of Lingen – population around 70 – has developed an unlikely enthusiasm for the music of little-known Czech composer Erwin Schulhoff.
Born in Prague in 1894 with a German-Jewish background, Schulhoff was one of a generation of notable Czech composers murdered by the Nazis, along with Pavel Haas, Gideon Klein and Hans Krasa.
A student of Debussy and Reger, Schulhoff was one of the first European composers to be strongly influenced by jazz, writing a “Hot Sonata” for alto saxophone and piano.
He first made his mark in Lingen last October when the Rivoli Quartet included some of his waltzes in a sold-out concert there. Now they are returning on Bank Holiday Monday with the Fünf Stücke für Streichquartett (Five Pieces for String Quartet), a piece premiered in Salzburg 65 years ago this month.
Lingen resident David Thame, who is helping to organise the concert, said: “Schulhoff’s work amazed the village when it was performed in October.
The sound was astonishing – almost mad, a bit like a waltz gone wrong. Once heard, never forgotten.
“One of the Rivoli players was telling me that there has been a rising interest in his music over the last 18 months, but it is still very little known – which is a shame, because it’s sparkling in the extreme.”
Ticket sales for Monday’s concert have been going well, despite competition from the (relatively) nearby Presteigne Festival.
It seems that many of the village’s residents will be turning out.
“Although we can only fit 70-80 people into St Michael’s Church it will create a wonderful atmosphere,” says David Thame.
The Rivoli Quartet, which was formed in 1999 at the Manchester University Music Department and recently won the Prix Ravel at the Académie Internationale de Musique Maurice Ravel, will also perform Haydn’s Op 54 No2 and Dvorak’s Op.96 “American” Quartet. Tickets for Monday’s concert cost £8 and can be reserved by calling 01544 262896.
