Carwithen’s style
Cinematic A supremely gifted film composer, Carwithen writes extremely evocatively. In her orchestral works, everything from her orchestration to approach to melody is influenced by film composition. Romanticism Though neither atonal nor experimental, Carwithen’s music is often balancing on the edge of modernism, particularly in her early works. She was, however, nonetheless heavily influenced by Romantic music and art.
Pastoralism The English landscape was a continuous source of inspiration for Carwithen, particularly the rolling fields and wetlands of Suffolk, where she lived from 1961 until her death. In her Suffolk Suite, in particular, she presents an idealised vision of the county.
Timbre Timbre is all-important in Carwithen’s work, even in her chamber music. Vaughan Williams, himself an influence, loved her String Quartet No. 1 except for her use of sul ponticello (keeping the bow near the bridge), which he described as a ‘nasty noise’.