2018
Queen Canute (The Seagull Piece) – for clarinet and seagulls – 10′
Commissioned for the Peninsula Arts Contemporary Music Festival 2018 Queen Canute is a 3-movement piece which explores the sound of seagulls and the musicality that can be extracted from it. Traditionally, instrumental duets with birds have concentrated on the use of songbirds, whose vocalisations are more obviously musical to our ears.
The first movement introduces a variety of sounds made by seagulls and the clarinet responds to them. The second movement explores the details of one call by sampling fragments of the call. The clarinet seeks to imitate it and blend in, it is not always clear which is which! The third movement explores the quieter seagull sounds which the clarinet imitates and renders musical. Called Lament, this movement is also a commentary on the misunderstandings around seagulls and their negative perception in society.
Queen Canute has been featured on i news and endorsed by the RSPB.
This is the score.
2017
Nasal Satan Pie – percussion and loop station – 4′
Commissioned by Psappha
This is the score.
Tuna Fishing – string orchestra and piano – 8′
Premiered by Ten Tors Orchestra on 8 April 2017 at Plymouth University.
This is the score.
Waaschgiischwashäsch – chamber ensemble – 9′
Premiered by Ten Tors Orchestra on 27 February 2017 at the Peninsula Contemporary Music Festival at Plymouth University.
Included in my PhD portfolio.
This is the score.
The Voice of the Sea – live electronics using live buoy data – ca 10′
Premiered on 28 February 2018 at the Peninsula Contemporary Music Festival at Plymouth University.
Included in my PhD portfolio.