Having longed for years
to write for string quartet I grasped eagerly at the Endellion's
offer to play one whenever it was ready. Total inhibition,
caused by the medium's glorious past, nipped every attempt in the
bud. They were very patient and understanding, always agreeing
to put off a planned première till next year. In the end
I set myself the limit — if not this time, cancel permanently:
wrote fast and furious on completely different lines from what
had been envisaged previously: and was so charged up by the way
the quartet rehearses (let alone performs) as to immediately begin
another: and would like bit by bit to add many more. Better
late than never.
