2018

The Bee Carol 

choir [SATB]

c. 2' 

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The Bee Carol takes inspiration from Carol Ann Duffy’s poem of the same name. The poem plays with the fragility and vulnerability of the bee in hibernation, but also of the strength of the hive together. I felt a particularly strong connection with this image from my own time spent in Manchester - the city of the worker bee. The music responds to the inquisitive nature of the bees in their fragile state, and is treated as a folk tune to reflect the original secular use of carols through history.

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Étude 6: Automne à Varsovie (2018)

orchestra

c. 5'20"

 

Étude 6: Automne à Varsovie is an arrangement for orchestra from Ligeti's piano etude of the same name. 

This piano étude was written in 1985 and so much of influence in Ligeti’s orchestration style was taken from this period. The two pieces which inform this orchestration most are the Piano Concerto (1985-1988) and the Violin Concerto (1990). Many similar figures and ideas from this étude reappear in those pieces, such as the falling lamento motif. 

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Out to Lunch 

opera [mezzo soprano solo / baritone solo / 1 high voice / 2 low voices / Bb trumpet / Bb bass clarinet / accordion / violin / viola]

c. 10'

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Out to Lunch is an operatic one act nonsense in which a person on the edge of sanity is bombarded with tasks, trials and tribulations. The characters search for endless meaningless meaning in a satirical, metaphorical and pedagogical adventure into retail.

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Shadows of doubt 

vocal trio [S/S/A]

c. 3'

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Shadows of doubt is inspired by Mark Rothko's Yellow Pink and Lavender on Rose. The music responds to the colourful nature of the art and to the playful, inquisitive disposition of Sandra Burnett's poem. Taking inspiration from Irish folk melodies, it plays with a sense of fragility between the singers in the trio.

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The Importance of Being 

let not / splash / again / nature poem / the secret

male voice / soprano sax / Bb trumpet / double bass [doubling electric bass] / vibraphone / drum kit

c. 14'

 

A song cycle for male voice and ensemble, The Importance of Being explores concepts of society, love, living and value. The poetry of Charles Bukowski is spoken over a small jazz ensemble, allowing the depth of his language to resonate over quick-changing, chaotic and vibrant textures.

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Like Shining from Shook Foil

orchestra [ 2 / 2 / 1+bass / 2 - 4 / 2 / 2+bass / 1 - perc, hp, str ]

c. 8'

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 The world is charged with the grandeur of God.    

          It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;    

      It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil

 Crushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod?                                                    

                                              - Gerard Manley Hopkins

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Sea to Sky 

solo alto / piano

c. 3' 

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Sea to Sky takes inspiration from Rothko’s art, namely Green over Blue. In collaboration with Sandra Burnett, we spoke about depth of colour and the fragility of edges. Through her words, I portray this fragility and its unnerving volatility in Sea to Sky.

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Silkscreen 

brass quintet [ 2 Bb trumpets / french horn / trombone / tuba ]

c. 6' 

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Silkscreen refers to a screen of fine mesh used whilst screen printing I take the process of screen printing literally, by building colour in overlaying chords and metre across the original stencil. There remains some bleed and blemishes as the ‘ink’ doesn’t always print correctly. The work was inspired by elements of industry within Manchester, applying similar ideas of process and industry to music.

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2017

Riptide 

choir [ SSAATTBB with 2 performers per part [16 total] ]

c. 6' 

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Riptide is about the ebbing and flow of sound, almost emulating the music of a synthesiser. The choir has undercurrents which flit between parts, focusing on texture, washing gradually through the piece.

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Ad hoq 

viola de gamba / trombone / descant recorder

c. 2'30"

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Drawing on the art of hocketing, Ad hoq strives to throw a musical 'hiccup' in timbre and line around the ensemble. The nature of the ensemble leaves chance for purposeful contradictions of style and sound between the instruments. Ad hoq responds to Machaut’s work, Hoquetus David.

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Bobbyknocker Trio 

I could dare / Alone / Cold realisation

solo soprano / piano

c. 4'40"

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A trio of poems by Sarah Teale, reimagined as musical theatre numbers, exploring themes of loneliness.

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Fake News

Trump Natural Spring Water / Trump Steaks / Trump

Utility Home Bedding / Trump Effect / Trump Fragrance

male vocal trio [ 2 tenors / bass ]

c. 5'20"

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For me, much of Andy Warhol’s work seems to be concerned with surface and what, if anything, lies beneath. As each print is produced, small flaws emerge conveying a sense of decay across the work - it is also greatly concerned with American identity. I see much of Warhol’s work as a reflection of what he feels America to be at the time of each work’s inception, from a giant hamburger, to stardust ‘Shadows’ presenting a macabre disco decor. I have sought to adapt this reflection to today’s America, literally reflecting the President, Donald Trump back to us, the people. Taking this reflection, I have written small jingles, selling some of these genuine Trump products. Using largely his own language, I seek to portray not only the success of consumerism, but also the unnerving decay with which it, and Trump seems to lay beneath the surface.

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superimpose

flute / Bb clarinet / Bb trumpet / cello / live electronics

c. 11'

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This piece was inspired by the aesthetic of artist, Idris Khan and worked with the ensemble Vonnegut Collective. By superimposing dense layers of imagery and photography, his work begins to take on new meanings through the juxtaposition of art, words and religion. I sought to try this musically. By directly recording the performers, a Max/MSP patch loops and plays back cells a certain number of times. This leads to the phasing in and out of material and the superimposition of 4 instruments upon themselves. The music follows the movement of two chords, in an organic and evolving process - leading to climax in a fanfare solo by the trumpet over the muddy texture beneath.      

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Sis [OST]

organ / violin / cello

c. 10' 

 

Two estranged sisters, religious Fran and transgender Steph, reconcile their differences during the course of one night where honesty is the only policy. Directed by Dimitris Toulias. Link to more info here.

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