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Programme Note

Lamentation Rag was commissioned by the BBC for its celebrations in 1982 of the 250th anniversary of the birth of Haydn. The melodic line of this short piece is entirely derived from the musical transliteration of the name FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN. The slightly lugubrious title was chosen for two reasons: (i) it seems to suit the nature of the piece, and (ii) it refers to one of my favourites among early Haydn symphonies. It lasts just over a minute.

© Copyright 2005 by John McCabe