Fourteen Lines – Shakespeare on Love, Time and Poetry (with narrator)

Composed 2011,

Duration: 10 minutes,

Instrumentation: Symphony orchestra and narrator,  2,1,2+1,2/4,2,3,1, timp, perc (2 players), harp, str,

Degree of difficulty: Advanced,

Orchestral version and Ensemble versions are available – 7 short movements

Cathy Applegate’s orchestral work, Fourteen Lines was premiered by the DSO with Tom Pauling in Alice Springs, Australia in 2011, and performed again for a Darwin audience in 2012. Conducted by Leif Sundstrup on both occasions.
The work takes seven of Shakespeare’s Sonnets as inspiration for seven short pieces of music, the sonnets being read over the music (or possibly before).
These seven sonnets were selected by Tom Pauling, who was the past Administrator of the Northern Territory.
Shakespeare’s 154 Sonnets were first published in 1609 and have been the subject of much literary debate.
A sonnet is a piece of poetry usually written in strict form – it has fourteen lines and a set rhythm. The first twelve lines paint a picture for the reader, while the final couplet further explores the ideas, often with a clever twist.
In these works, Shakespeare truly demonstrates his command of language. He is masterful as he explores, with such profound understanding and biting wit, the essence of the human condition. He particularly looks at the complexities of relationships, themes that transcend time and cultures.

In early 2013, an ensemble version of 3 of the sonnets was performed at the new Darwin Military Museum. This is scored for string quartet, double bass, flute, clarinet, harp and spoken voice.

Numbers 1,4,and 6 have also been arranged for chamber orchestra – 2 flutes, 2 clarinets, 1 bassoon, amplified guitar, piano, timp, triangle, harp and strings. This was part of a concert to celebrate Women in Chamber Music, performed by the Arafura Ensemble on May 10th, 2015. We substituted poems by women for this concert. The poem The Mute Gypsy featured by Darwin poet Claine Keily. Click here for a link to Claine’s recently published poems.

Excerpt: No 6. Sonnet 29 – When In Disgrace With Fortune And Men’s Eyes

Click here to listen on Soundcloud to No 6 – full orchestral arrangement

Available through the Australian Music Centre

Click here for link to The Australian Music Centre