William Sterling

Introducing

Achilles killing Penthesilea, queen of the Amazons by Exekias of Athens c. 560 BC. This type of pot is called Black Figure ware as the figures were filled in using the liquid or slip clay which miraculously turned black during the firing process. One of the incidents during the Trojan War not recorded by Homer was the fight between Achilles, hero of the Greeks, and Penthesilea, queen of the tribe of warrior women called the Amazons. Achilles won but at the moment he drove his spear into her neck their eyes met for the first time and they fell in love with each other. Exekias shows this ultimate Greek Tragedy by suggesting Achilles is trying to pull the spear out rather than thrust it home but all too late. Image © Trustees of the British Museum
My name is Dr William Sterling ~ welcome to my website. I have degrees in History and Geography with additional qualifications in Music and Education. I taught full-time at an Independent School in Kent for four years before joining the Civil Service. I worked for 16 years in the Department of TransportRead more »

SPOTLIGHT: Musical compositions

Mass in G minor

Kyrie Kyrie Gloria

Caprice

Caprice for Violin and Piano in G This was written in 1984 when I was a teacher at a small Prep School in Kent for the violin teacher, Alison Reynolds.  The obvious influence is Handel with a few modern twists.  Although it is in one continuous movement it is in three sections marked Adagio, Vivace… Read more »

String Quartet No. 3

I have always enjoyed chamber music and this is the latest of my string quartets written between 1987 and 1994. First movement – Allegro This movement was influenced by Schubert, a favourite composer of my piano teacher, Eleanor Purce, a pupil of Alfred Cortot. String Quartet No. 3 1st movement Second movement – Adagio This… Read more »

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