Both as as serious ‘light music’ and challenging repertoire for capable players of higher intermediate to advanced grade, these Two Sketches deserve a permanent place in the string ensemble repertoire. ‘A Northern Song’ is a brooding poem for muted instruments, three solo first violins and solo viola, close in atmosphere to the first Norfolk Rhapsody of Vaughan Williams.

In contrast, ‘A Northern Dance’ is a carefree flourish, a counterpoint of unceasing semiquavers and sonorous cantabile mel...