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Monkish (excerpt)

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String Trio - Chambered Cairn
Based on the ancient Orkney site of Maeshowe, an ancient burial cairn that aligns with the setting sun on the eve of the Winter solstice.

Chambered Cairn - String Trio

Paddy's Leather Breeches : Scarce O' Tatties

This piece was written in memory of the composer and educator John Maxwell Geddes (1941-2017.) It takes inspiration from
2 works: "Postlude for Strings" by John Maxwell Geddes and "Madame Press Died Last Week at Ninety" by Morton Feldman.
Feldman's piece was written in fond memory of his childhood piano teacher to whom he credited entirely for his musical successes.
There is a distinct flute motif; a falling major third which is prominent throughout the piece. The motif is referenced throughout this
piece by the trumpet to signify the impact John had as an educator.
The second piece, "Postlude for Strings," is a statement piece written by John in reaction to funding cuts being made to music and
the arts. In his piece, the musicians gradually leave the stage until only the conductor is left to finish the piece. The piece sends
a clear message to audience members about the future of music and the arts if they are not supported.
This piece begins with an introduction on the vibraphone which sets the harmonic language for the piece. It is joined by the
violin and the oboe, the two instruments which John played himself. Gradually, musicians will walk on stage begin to play
until the whole orchestra is present. This is to demonstrate the immense musical impact that John had on so many
people’s lives and pay tribute to the work he done throughout his life.
The piece concludes with a solo violin playing a quotation of the closing theme of John's "Postlude for Strings."

Music For John (after Feldman) - for Orchestra (MIDI)

Performed by Nevis Ensemble, conducted by Jon Hargreaves.

commissioned by Nevis Ensemble for their inaugural tour of Scotland in August 2018.
​
The starting point for Attach was ‘Circles in a Circle’ (1923), a work by the Russian painter Wassily Kandinsky. Referring to this composition, Kandinsky wrote, “The circle is the synthesis of the greatest oppositions. It combines the concentric and the excentric in a single form, and in balance." I started to think about how the communities that we all belong to are in some ways exponents of “the greatest oppositions” that Kandinsky refers to. On the one hand these small communities and their comprised individuals tend to strive for independence and may espouse a collective set of opinions, beliefs or a sense of pride. In summary, there is a desire to have their unique voices heard. On the other hand, these communities may also aspire to feel like a microcosm of society in broader terms. They may want to feel connected to neighbouring communities and ultimately feel like their voices can be aligned, strengthened and united with the voices of surrounding communities. The ebb and flow of these opposing states heavily impacted the way I thought about organising the orchestra and eventually manifested into four distinct groups of musicians. The physical spatialisation of the groups was loosely informed by ‘Circles in a Circle’, and organised to situate three chamber-sized groups within a large circle of string players. I was interested in the resultant interactions between each group’s musical material and whether they try to have their individual voices heard or contribute towards the voice of one larger entity.

Attach (for orchestra) - 2 excerpts [2018]

Commissioned by Drake Music Scotland and Hebrides Ensemble for 'Diversions' in the Queen's Hall Edinburgh. 

The work tries to create a platform where accessible music technology can simply play alongside 'traditional' orchestral instruments and stand shoulder to shoulder with the past. 

The nod to Stravinsky highlights the sentiment - a group of instruments playing together. 

The work is four movements long

I - Searching
II - Hoquetus
III - Chorale
IV - Finale

Performed by the Hebrides Ensemble and Digital Orchestra, conducted by Ben Lunn

Symphonies Of Instruments (2019)

Composer | Arranger | RCS Graduate | aileensweeney.com

Music For John (after Feldman) - for Orchestra (MIDI)

Aileen Sweeney

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