JAM Commission world premiere
My new piece The Song I Came to Sing, for choir, brass quintet and organ, commissioned by JAM will be premiered by Selwyn Chapel Choir, Cambridge, Onyx Brass and Simon Hogan, conducted by Michael Bawtree.
I have set three poems by Rabindranath Tagore, from his Gitanjali collection. The piece is a commission from JAM, following my participation in their Masterclass Series with Voces8, during which I wrote Gold from the Stone.
Tickets are available here for this concert at the beautiful St Brides Church, Fleet Street on 21 March, 7.30pm
Suite for Prepared Piano completed and recorded
I have recently completed my Suite for Prepared Piano, started during a weekend in composing isolation at The Tractor Shed. The preparation for these pieces is fairly light — brass bolts are inserted between 14 strings, creating bell-like tones; blue tack is laid on several others, giving a plucked, stopped sound; most other notes sound as normal. The nine movements come to around 15 minutes, each one lasting between 45 seconds and several minutes.
I was lucky enough to have the wonderful pianist Kamilla Arku record the suite on a lovely Bluthner at Alice’s Loft studio. Engineering at this beautiful space were owner Denise Mangiardi, engineer Joe Wensley and assistant Antonio, who not only did a fantastic job but made the whole experience relaxed and enjoyable.
Kamilla will be performing this Suite next February in a concert series in London, so watch this space….