Barbara Allen: Fragments of a Lament

Alwynne Pritchard

Level:

Piece length: c. 4'
Scored for: Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass
Publisher: BMIC

In 1838 11 girls and 15 boys were drowned whilst mining at the Silkstone colliery near Barnsley. The youngest was just 7 years old. The tragedy
was remembered and retold through words set to the folk-song Barbara Allen, which I have used in fragmented form here.

The second violin/viola and 'cello retune their strings down a semitone so that the melodic fragments can be played in all possible keys without much difficultly. The parts are also all independent. Anyone (except the double bass player) can begin the piece, with the others following soon after and finishing in their own time.

My hope is that Barabara Allen: Fragmets of a Lament will be able to stimulate a sense of musical freedom and a taste for exploration in
young and inexperienced players of all ages.

Alwynne Pritchard