The Coming of Arthur | for mandolin & guitar by Frank A. Wallace

Mare Duo on the cover
of “Crystal Tears” CD on Trekel

The Coming of Arthur was written for the Mare Duo, Annika Hinsche [Luckebergfeld], mandolin and Fabian Hinsche, guitar, in early summer 2009 at a beautiful home on Cape Cod. The Duo had requested that I write a piece with a literary theme to fit a “concept” album they were creating. We tossed around many ideas and finally I stumbled on the poem of this name by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. While the form of the poem seemed difficult to me, the passion, and dynamic inspired me. I did not realize until afterward how my love of medieval music infuses the work – appropriately.

I have borrowed some musical material from my song Rain, Rain and Sun from The Great Deep. I do not like to think harmonically – so many of my harmonies result from melodic and textural work. As the poem constantly goes back and forth between hope and despair, the work alternates dissonant dialogue with consonant dance and song. Arthur comes to a land that has been torn by unrest and disorder. The land is rife with beasts and the people have lost control of their homeland. As we all know, the story ends with hope.

I want to thank both Denise Sullivan for the use of her gorgeous home and gardens and August Watters for loaning me an exquisite mandolin. You can read more at my blog about the creation of this piece.

Gyre Publications
Copyright ©2008 Frank A. Wallace
Cover photography and design by Nancy Knowles
All rights reserved.