My work at York College was in part, as a vocal tutor for the musical theatre programme. On retirement my intention as a composer was to to include writing for the voice, which I now do for York Chamber music choir ‘Coracle’,in addition to singing tenor and accompanying the group when needed. I am of course immensely grateful to ‘Coracle’ for their willingness to come on this musical journey with me!
To date my choir compositions are inspired by poems or folk songs. I set poems for SATB choir and have created choral pieces using folk-songs.
Folk-songs often tell great stories and connect us to our past. A major theme for me as a composer has been recollection, and the idea of rewriting songs, in other words keeping the lyrics but looking at them from the perspective of a composer writing today, appeals to me.
A favourite place for me is Warter and surrounding area near to where I live in East Yorkshire. I love the rolling Wolds and the quiet surroundings when walking allowing me to focus on natural sounds. In addition to an electro-acoustic work (‘Colours at Dawn’) and a piano solo (‘Warter Walks’) I decided following a trip to the local history centre in Hull, to set a version of ‘The Maiden’s Prayer’, which would have been well-known in the area.
The simple and tragic story of a girl who takes her own life after discovering she is pregnant following a brief affair with a sailor, would have been a familiar story in an area close to Hull. My intention was to replace a rather jaunty folk theme with a short and at times dramatic choral composition for SATB choir.
‘The Spider’ was commissioned by the choir for ‘A festival of animals project’ and was first performed in Barmby Moor church in 2023, subsequent performances were given in the Unitarian church and at the Cemetery chapel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JUWZeuJAvM
My next piece for the group ‘The Lover’s Ghost’ explores writing for live ‘cello (rather than piano or unaccompanied) and prerecorded sound hopefully creating atmosphere and mood. (The prerecorded elements ‘bookend’ the start and end of the composition. This gives me interesting new avenues to explore!