The King of the Golden River has been commissioned as part of the centenary celebrations of the death of John Ruskin.

Written for tenor and string quartet, it provides an opportunity to articulate themes of human nature, argument, challenge, justice and the search for peace through the textures and musical debate of the string quartet, offset by the human voice and together telling an allegorical tale.

It will be available on CD on the SOMM label, SOMMCD222 in January 2000. The performers are the Coull Quartet with Richard Edgar-Wilson, tenor. The CD will be available alone or packaged with the centenary edition of the book, published, Coach House Publications. The CD may be ordered through these pages where a free sound ample may also be auditioned.

The first performance, by the same performers, will be on the anniversary date of Ruskin's death, 20th January 2000 when it is programmed as part of the Lancaster Concerts Subscription Series at Lancaster University which houses the newly opened Ruskin collection. There will be a pre-concert talk by the composer.

Further performances will take place at the Arts Centre, Warwick University on 10th February 2000 and at Brantwood, John Ruskin's Coniston Lakeside home, as part of the Summer Festival devoted to new work inspired by the life and creativity of John Ruskin.