Andrew Ford’s sixth string quartet will receive its first performance this month and next from the Flinders Quartet, for whom it was written. A five-movement work lasting 25 minutes, it was commissioned for the Flinders by David and Kaye Birks and Julian Burnside AO QC. The two even-numbered movements preceded the others, ‘Scherzo perpetuo’ (2014) composed for the silent film Le Sculpteur express, while ‘Sunrise with Wedding Dresses’ (2016) was commissioned by Ben Quilty for his short film The Dress. Both involved the Flinders Quartet and you can listen to ‘Sunrise with Wedding Dresses’ on Soundcloud.
> Performances of String Quartet No. 6 in Ballarat 28 October; Melbourne Recital Centre 8 November; Montsalvat 11 November and Bendigo 14 November.