In the third lecture of the new Hans Keller Forum series, Nicky Swett presents:

The Music Behind the Music: Pre-compositional thought in Benjamin Britten’s Second String Quartet

Tickets are free-of-charge but must be reserved in advance.

In his Wordless Functional Analyses, critic and broadcaster Hans Keller composed instrumental interludes that aimed to show relationships and contrasts across disparate themes and movements in a particular piece of music. His analysis of Benjamin Britten’s Second Quartet, which the composer expressed admiration for, uncovers striking aspects of one of the great 20th century String Quartets. It also illustrates elements of the Keller’s larger theory of how music works in the heart and the mind. Together with the Aestus Quartet, writer and music researcher Nicky Swett will explore Britten’s piece, Keller’s interpretation of it, and what wordless analysis might teach us about the psychology of music.

• About the Lecturer

  Cellist, writer, and music researcher Nicky Swett is a PhD Student and Gates Scholar in the Department of Music at the University of Cambridge.

  His doctoral thesis investigates the wordless musical analyses of critic and broadcaster Hans Keller from biographical, analytical, and cognitive perspectives. His research interests include musical pattern learning and pedagogy, analogy and comparison, audiovisual processing, arrangement and transcription, and the relationships between diverse musical styles.

  He holds previous degrees from Northwestern University and the University of Sheffield and has served as a program annotator for Music@Menlo, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, and the New York Philharmonic.

• About the Ensemble

  The Aestus Quartet is formed by Leda (Italy), Chris (U.K.), (violins) Beth (U.K., viola) and Clara (Canada/U.S., cello). Formed at the Royal Northern College of Music in 2021, their name is inspired by Britten’s String Quartet No 2, its beginning being evocative of the back and forth flow of the sea tide ('aestus' in Latin).

• About Hans Keller Forum

  Hans Keller Forum (HKF) is a new ChamberStudio programme which provides in-depth mentorship for selected chamber ensembles from UK conservatoires. It runs as a set of three day residential courses held at West Road Concert Hall. The ensembles will be coached by acclaimed chamber musicians Alasdair Beatson, John Myerscough and Richard Ireland. Masterclasses and Open Rehearsals on 5 January from 17.30-18.45 will be open to observers.

Hannah Uzor has been Artist in Residence for Hans Keller Forum 2022/23. Hannah is holder of the Milein Cosman Scholarship for Drawing at the Slade School of Fine Art and her work will be viewable in an exhibition in the West Road Concert Hall foyer.

Sketch of Benjamin Britten by Milein Cosman.

HKF is funded by the Cosman Keller Art and Music Trust, the Albert and Eugenie Frost Music Trust CIO, and Philip Carne.