True Plain Hearts is based on poetry by John Donne on the theme of love and relationships, from the grief of separation, a broken romance, an expectant seduction to the intensity of true love.

The first poem, A Valediction: of Weeping, expresses the grief of separation felt by the lovers on parting.  In A Jet Ring Sent, the woman has returned a jet ring that the poet once gave to her: he muses on it as a token of their broken romance.  The Computation describes the bewildering, interminable pain of separation felt by the poet.  In The Flea, the poet uses imagery of a flea to seduce his would-be lover.  The final poem, Good Morrow, expresses the intensity of true love.

True Plain Hearts  5. Good Morrow

True Plain Hearts  4. The Flea

True Plain Hearts  3. The Computation

True Plain Hearts  2. A Jet Ring Sent

True Plain Hearts  1. A Valediction; Of Weeping

With a sound-world that is rooted in the great British music string tradition, Eyebright’s melodic strands and textures combine to produce beautifully atmospheric writing.

The starting point for this work was visits I made to wildflower meadows being created and conserved in Cheshire, and reflections on our inter-connections with the natural world.  Eyebright is a wildflower which keeps vigorous grasses at bay, allowing more delicate wildflowers to thrive.  It also has a long history of use as a herbal medicine.

Recorded at rehearsal in May 2022, featuring Northern Chamber Orchestra at the Stoller Hall, Manchester.

Eyebright

Extracts from a 7' work for 12 string players. The starting point for this work was visits I made to wildflower meadows being created and conserved in Cheshire, and reflections on our inter-connections with the natural world.

Eyebright - Edit 3

Eyebright - Edit 2

Eyebright - Edit 1

The beautiful second movement from Adrienne Spilsbury's Suite for Strings No. 3, played by the Amaretti Chamber Orchestra on ﻿19th January 2013, conducted by Sinead Hayes. The recording was made during rehearsal so apologies for the conductor comments.

Suite for Strings No. 3 Second Movement

This String Quartet resulted from a visit to Bodnant Gardens in North Wales in early spring.  The outer parts of the first movement depict the sweeping views from the upper gardens onto Snowdonia, interpolated by a descent into the Round Garden. The path leads down into the Dell, a wooded valley and wild garden through which runs the River Hiraethlyn. The visitor then ascends through the trees, passing “Poem" (the family mausoleum), from which a network of paths leads through shrubberies back to the front lawn and the flights of broad, Italianate terraces.  In the flower beds that spring were rows of very defiant, perfectly formed red and yellow Queen of Sheba tulips.

This demo was recorded by members of the Irwell Ensemble on 15th May 2013.


Largo - Poem

Allegro con brio - Terraces and Tulips

Adrienne Spilsbury creates a sound-world that is rooted in the great British string music tradition, with melodic strands and textures that combine to produce expressive dissonance and lyricism, often drawing inspiration from places and the natural world. Her music is approachable and rewarding for players and audiences alike. 

Adrienne was born in North Wales.  She studied Musicology at the Royal Northern College of Music, and performs as a violinist and violist with several orchestras and chamber groups based in the North West of England.

Adriennespilsburycomposer

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