Anthony Ritchie’s New String Quartet Album Melencolia Set for Release

Composer Anthony Ritchie is poised to release his new string quartet album, Melencolia, on October 18, 2023. This album features the performances of the Jade String Quartet, a renowned ensemble based in Auckland. The collection includes Ritchie’s String Quartets No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3, showcasing a journey of evolution in his musical style over four decades.

From Complexity to Emotion

Reflecting on his growth as a composer, Ritchie notes that his music has become more accessible over time. His first string quartet, composed while studying in Budapest in the early 1980s, was initially deemed too complex for local musicians to perform. “In the last 10 years, I’ve deliberately tried to simplify my style — write almost as if I was a child again,” he explained. This shift emphasizes emotional expression rather than technical complexity.

The upcoming album features the Jade String Quartet, which includes Dunedin-born violinist Miranda Adams, her husband Robert Ashworth, their daughter Charmian Keay, and cellist James Yoo, with production by Kenneth Young. The album artwork draws inspiration from the upper right corner of Albrecht Dürer’s famous engraving, Melencolia I, aligning with the album’s introspective theme.

A Personal Journey in Three Quartets

Ritchie describes Melencolia as a “personal album” that documents his artistic journey. The first two quartets serve as reflections of earlier times, while the third represents his current approach to music — emphasizing simplicity and expressiveness. Notably, each quartet was composed approximately 20 years apart; the first in the early 1980s, the second in 2003, and the third in 2023.

Initially, Ritchie’s first quartet remained unperformed for years. It wasn’t until a student expressed interest that the piece was performed informally in Dunedin. “I was intrigued to hear the piece ‘come to life’ after about 40 years,” he said. Including it in Melencolia serves both to challenge the performers and to complete the narrative of his evolving sound.

Ritchie has enjoyed collaborating with the Jade String Quartet, who previously performed his String Quartet No. 2 in 2022. Their enthusiasm for his previously unrecorded works led to the idea of recording all three quartets. Ritchie remarked, “They actually played all three last year in their programmes, and we ended the year by recording them all.” This collaboration has enriched the recording process, as the ensemble embraced the technical challenges of the compositions.

Throughout the album, Ritchie explores themes of time and emotional states, with the second and third quartets written in Dunedin. He suggests that the unique qualities of Southern life influence his artistry, contributing to a “slightly dark quality” in his work. While String Quartet No. 1 explores the notion of relationships and the feeling of being an outsider, the overarching theme of melancholia is interwoven through all three pieces.

The fourth movement of the third quartet was particularly influenced by the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, reflecting the emotional power of collective grief. Ritchie emphasizes that the string quartet medium inherently demands expressiveness and requires “absolute technical mastery” from performers. Despite the technical demands, he appreciates the willingness of the Jade String Quartet to take artistic risks during the recording sessions.

Ritchie hopes that listeners are transported by Melencolia, aiming for an immersive experience that allows them to lose track of time. “That’s one of my goals as a composer — to engross people so much that they forget all about how much time is going by,” he said.

The album will be launched at an RSVP-only event at Relics, located at 165 George St., where the Jade String Quartet will perform selected movements from the album. This release marks a significant milestone for Ritchie, who expresses satisfaction in the collaboration with the quartet, stating, “I don’t think I could really ask for a better recording, to be honest.”