First performance by Henri Bok (bass clarinet), Aspekte Festival, Salzburg, Austria, 2 March 2003.
The title, from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, comes from Gertrude’s speech about the death of Ophelia, who in her madness chanted “snatches of old tunes” (in the First Quarto and First Folio editions) or “snatches of old lauds” (in the Second Quarto). Lauds, which should be pronounced like Lords, is an old word meaning hymns.
This piece was composed for Henri Bok who gave the first performance at the Aspekte festival in Salzburg, Austria, on March 2, 2003. It is dedicated to my colleague and friend, Gerard Brophy on his 50th birthday.