8 by Robert Simpson was composed in 1979 in response to a commission by the Brunel Philharmonic Society with funds made available from the Greater London Arts Association.
[1] The work is dedicated to Professor Gillett, who was the director of Biological Sciences at Brunel University in 1980, and his wife.
[2] The interval of a perfect fifth in particular plays a vital role of the concentrated construction of the entire work.
As the fugue develops, power and energy is gained until a climax is reached with scurrying motion of the viola and cello.
Currently, the only commercially available CD is a Hyperion Records release which also includes String Quartet No.