Dorrit Ensemble: Shield

The Strad Issue: April 2026

Description: Two violins make scintillating music together

Musicians: Dorrit Ensemble

Works: Shield: Complete Chamber Works vol.3: Violin Duets opp.1 and 2

Catalogue number: NAXOS 8574443

After early violin lessons with his father, William Shield (1748–1829) had a brief spell as an apprentice boat-builder in North Shields before moving to London, where he became lead viola in the King’s Orchestra in the Haymarket.

As a composer he became well known for his operas, and was highly thought of by Haydn. Although most of his work was for the theatre he produced a quantity of chamber music, including these twelve delightful violin duets.

He learnt a lot about instrumental writing while playing operas by composers such as Paisiello, and these two-movement works are full of colour and invention. They are also clearly written by a first-rate fiddle player.

Elegant melodies abound, as can be heard in the very first duo op.1 no.1. In no.2 there is a deal of neat passagework and hunting horns ride jauntily in the second movement.

The Minuetto of no.3 has a set of busy, showy variations, and the first movement of no.5 is filled with rhythmic vitality and sparky interplay between the violins. The writing gets steadily more egalitarian through op.2.

There are chromatic inflections here in no.5 and the first movement of no.6 in D minor is an agile canon. The playing from Elizabeth Layton and Elizabeth Sellars is exemplary in its understated tonal beauty and graceful phrasing. The recording is well balanced and clear.

TIM HOMFRAY