This year the centre of this summer’s programming is Beethoven’s titanic string quartet, Opus 127, one of the master’s late, great, works that went on to re-shape the direction of classical music. His contemporaries had difficulty comprehending such a prophetic work – Beethoven’s friend, composer Louis Spohr, described the piece as “an indecipherable, uncorrected horror” – but it is now acknowledged as core repertoire.

We’ll also have Bach’s deeply spiritual Partita in B Minor for solo violin, a transcendent work that evokes the essence of infinity. Shostakovich’s folksy fourth quartet brings us to the 20^th century along with two other pieces: Oliver Knussen’s Secret Psalm for solo violin and a violin and cello duo by Augusta Read Thomas, Rumi Settings (with dancer Lois Taylor, choreographed by Angus Balbernie), Tom Vignieri’s Walk with Me for quartet and improvised jazz saxophone is an annual favourite, and as an extra treat, we have Devon’s own Gabrielle Mills, who has written a world premiere for saxophone and string quartet based on Devon folk songs.

The Ashburton Chamber Music Festival (ACMF) was conceived by Artistic Director David Yang along with Devon local, Andy Williamson, and aims to bring world-class chamber music to the region every July. Now in its sixth year, it brings world-class musicians to perform in a number of traditional arts venues and non-traditional settings across rural South Devon. The programme so far will include: