The Great Hedge Chase
(from The Feline Fine Suite)
The Great Hedge Chase is the opening movement of The Feline Fine Suite, a string quartet suite inspired by the small dramas of garden life.
At the heart of the piece is a familiar scene: two cats slipping into a privet hedge, circling, stalking, pouncing, then losing the plot entirely when something more interesting appears. The “chase” keeps trying to begin, only to be interrupted by birdsong, insects, and any unexpected visitor that crosses their path.
Written in rondo form, the movement begins in A♭major, returning to its main theme again and again, each time with new twists in texture, rhythm, and momentum, like repeated laps of the same game.
Along the way it moves through E♭major, then F major, before pushing toward a final return where the pursuit finally gathers pace once more.
Tempo shifts are an essential part of the character: quick bursts of energy, sudden pauses, and moments of calm observation. The Moderato section from bar 103 reflects that stop start attention, with the chase properly reigniting from bar 159, once the distractions have cleared.
Available as full score and parts, supplied as performance-ready PDF downloads.
