Field of Stars, for four string quartets, will premiere at East Neuk Festival on 29 June 2025 with the Belcea, Castalian, Elias and Pavel Haas Quartets.
A piece about pilgrimage, when Beamish’s husband’s son returned from an extraordinary and transformative feat – running the Camino de Santiago de Compostela - he brought them the emblem of the pilgrimage – a scallop shell. This same shell as the logo for the East Neuk Festival – referring to the pilgrimage made by many to St Andrews in Fife.
Compostela means ‘Field of Stars’ – the navigational tool used by pilgrims over the ages. The stars are represented in the piece by small bells performed by the cellists – B, C, E, and H, taking its note from the first letter of the name of each quartet performing the premiere. (H=B in German notation , and B=Bb).
Performed in concert with Beethoven’s late quartets, tickets are now on sale from the East Neuk website.