On Thursday 1 December Edward Gregson’s new work for solo violin, Triptych, will be premiered at the Royal Northern College of Music International Violin Competition in Manchester. It has been commissioned as the test piece for the semi final stage where the last eight competitors will perform it for a place in the concerto final. All of the original 30 competitors selected have to learn it.

The composer writes

“Competition pieces are always something of a dilemma for a composer. If you are not careful, the need to set an exacting technical test tends to predominate one’s thinking. Therefore, to …