Larghetto (from the English Serenade) for String Orchestra ~ Conductors Score  Ref: JM41bSC

Miniature on 'Lord thy word Abideth' This miniature was completed in the autumn of 2005, and basically forms the central section, or slow movement, of the 'English Serenade' with rather different opening and ending bars so as to be possible to stand up as a beautiful individual piece. The writing is full of advanced romantic English harmonies with occasional hints at Wagner too, and the novelty is that it is based upon the hymn tune 'Lord thy Word Abideth' of Ravenshaw. However the purpose has not been to specifically produce a religious composition or the writing of a chorale prelude, but to underline the English and British heritage so famed in bearing such 'cantabile' slow tunes which Johnstone accentuates by interweaving the string principals as soloists with the full strings. The piece can be performed by string sections of all sizes, and is equally suitable for orchestral or religious programmes. The duration is of approximately four minutes. Dedicated to Caroline Collier and the Chamber Orchestra 'Camerata Cambrensis'.