Elegy

An Epitaph on Claudy Phillips, a Musician

Phillips! whose touch harmonious could remove
The pangs of guilty pow’r and hapless love,
Rest here, distress’d by poverty no more,
Here find that calm thou gav’st so oft before;
Sleep undisturbed within this peaceful shrine,
Till angels wake thee with a note like thine.
Samuel Johnson (1740)

This text, written by Samuel Johnson in 1740, refers to Claudy Phillips, a fiddler who traveled throughout Wales and was greatly celebrated for his performances. The music is derived from three sources: the final chorale (beginning at rehearsal letter O), which was composed first; an English folk song, “Lord Bateman,” (heard in its fullest extent in the viola beginning at rehearsal letter E); and finally, a characteristic motive of English folk song described by Imogen Holst in her book Tune and heard most clearly at the beginning of the viola cadenza.

This is an atmospheric piece; the final impression should be that of walking slowly through a large, echoing stone church, hearing the subdued hum of voices and occasional bells, and remembering how Phillips used to play.