Lament for string orchestra
Susan’s Lament for String Orchestra was composed in 1934. Written in the top-left corner of the manuscript in Susan’s handwriting is “P.H.A. 17th October 1934, R.I.P”. Being unaware of any family member or public figure with those initials who died on that date, Susan’s family sought help from the London branch of the Genealogical Society to identify “P.H.A.”. They established that the only person in the United Kingdom with those initials who died on that date was Percy Henry Adams. He was an architect, born in 1870, who built Art Nouveau-style cinemas in London. His address in London was close to where Susan was living at the time. So he is very likely to be the person to whom this piece was dedicated. It is quite an uplifting piece, not perhaps what one would expect for a “Lament”.
At a meeting arranged by Peter Cigleris in 2018, the BBC expressed interest in recording a short piece by Susan which had not been performed previously, and chose “Lament for String Orchestra”. A printed score with parts would be required for recording, rather than the manuscript. Peter immediately volunteered to transcribe and edit the work to enable this. Lament was recorded at the BBC Maida Vale Studios in London by the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Michael Collins in 2018. It was broadcast on BBC Radio 3 soon afterwards.
The piece was subsequentely recorded by the South German Chamber Orchestra conducted by Douglas Bostock for their British Music for Strings III Album. Reviewers of this album commented that Lament was “notable for its vigour, clearly giving thanks for a life rather than mourning its loss” (Geoff Brown, BBC Music Magazine, 2022) and “a noble, passionate and tender portrait” (Adrian Edwards, Gramophone, 2022).
Listen
Section titled “Listen”Performed by the Südwestdeutsches Kammerorchester Pforzheim, conducted by Douglas Bostock. Edited by Peter Cigleris. From the album British Music for Strings, Vol. 3, CPO CX 5457, 2021.