Product Description
Based on the true history of The Young Pretender, Charles Edward Stuart of Scotland, who led the Jacobite attack on the British Government, making it only as far south as Derbyshire, was chased back to Scotland, defeated at the Battle of Culloden in 1746 and escaped to the Isle of Skye.
This piece for string quartet roughly follows the young princes geographical movement south and retreat north, starting in the English border town of Carlisle, which quickly fell to the invading Jacobites. They progressed south towards London as far as Derby (100 miles north), where false intelligence, a lack of French support and loss of nerve led to a hasty retreat north. The British finally caught up with the rebels in Culloden, a humiliating massacre. Charles fled in disgrace, aided by the local clans and commoners, including Flora McDonald - as told in the traditional Skye Boat Song - who led the prince, disguised as her maid, to the safety of the Western Isles, where he would stay until eventually escaping to France.
An advanced string quartet of five short movements. The triumphant opening of Carlisle, full of characteristic scotch snaps, double-stops and drones soon gives way to the reality check that greets the troops in Derby, where the local loyalists theme provides calm and pathos as the dream dies. A sudden fast-forward to the bloody and chaotic battle is depicted in Culloden. Charlies Flight is suddenly lighter 6/8 theme giving way to the reel-like final movement of Skye.
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