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        Commissioned by BBC Radio 3 and first performed by the BBC Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Nil Venditti, on 6 March 2025. A 25 for 2025 commission.

        • ob,vn + 2.2.2.2(II:cbn)/4.3.3.1/3perc/str
        • Oboe, Violin
        • 6 min

        Programme Note

        Two soloists stand each side of the conductor mourning the death of Queen Elizabeth II after a reign of seventy years. The oboe player was chosen as a soloist because he also won the Queen’s Medal for music and so had the honour of a half hour private meeting with Her Majesty (HM) and so has a wonderful personal memory.

        [Nicholas Daniel (oboe) was awarded the medal in 2011 and Thea Musgrave in 2017].

        The award originated in 2005 when Sir Peter Maxwell Davies was Master of the Queen’s Music. It was to be given to an outstanding individual, or group of musicians, who have had a major influence on the musical life of the nation.

        The work begins with a giant cluster chord and the two soloists respond as they remember with wonder that meeting with HM. An A major chord gradually appears—it is played by the three trumpets who will represent HM. The two soloists turn upstage to face “HM” and they “converse”. At one moment HM recalls a very difficult memory—the ‘annus horribilis’.

        Eventually HM disappears and the opening cluster chords return. But as the soloists grieve they also feel great gratitude for a wonderful memory.

        Thea Musgrave

        More Info

        • Dennehy, Musgrave on BBC Radio 3
          • Dennehy, Musgrave on BBC Radio 3
          • 27th March 2025
          • Donnacha Dennehy and Thea Musgrave have been commissioned by BBC Radio 3 as part of the 25 for 25: Sounds of the Century project.