Wye Valley Music’s next concert at the Bridges Centre, Monmouth, on Sunday, September 14th at 3pm, sees the return of the Salomé string quartet.

Described as‘strikingly intelligent and expressive’ by The Strad magazine, they are one of the UK’s most exciting young quartets, performing across the UK and internationally. Their programme on September 14th is varied and exciting, focusing on composers who were all innovators in their own time: two remarkable women and three better known men, (Haydn, Schubert and Ravel), all from different centuries and who made their mark in creating new musical forms and sound worlds.

Hildegard von Bingen (c.1098-1179) is one of the first composers in the history of Western music whom we can identify by name. A German abbess, polymath, a progressive and influential thinker, she wrote monophonic (single voice) chants to her own texts. Her music is some of the most expressive to come out of the medieval period and remains popular among musicians today.

Caroline Shaw is a hugely successful contemporary American composer, who has received top accolades for her work. At 40 years old, she has already earned herself a place in the core repertoire of many ensembles, and her popularity continues to grow globally, even amongst more conservative audiences reluctant to hear contemporary music. The likely reason for this success is that her work is firmly rooted in the classical tradition, with the influence of baroque choral music, and chamber music masterpieces clear in her compositions.

Programme - Haydn: String Quartet in G major Op.64, No. 4 Schubert: Quartettsatz in C minor, D. 703Antiphons: Hildegard von Bingen Interval.

Caroline Shaw: Valencia Ravel: String Quartet in F major, M.35. To book, visit www.wyevalleymusic.org. Tickets are £20 (£17 for WVM members, £2 for under 25s) and include a printed programme.