Commission by and written for the Blueridge Chamber Music Festival - Sonic Story Brook, new chamber works inspired by children's stories.
Flute, Paolo Bortolussi
Clarinet, Liam Hockley
Cello, Jonathan Lo
Accordion, Taras Luka
Vibraphone, Katie Rife
Piano, Manuel Laufer

recorded by  Piotr Wieczorek

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Notes
The book, “The little engine that could,” is used to teach children the value of optimism and the belief in one’s ability to complete difficult tasks. It was my favorite book as a child. As adults, we still need to be reminded to believe in ourselves.

i think i can (or the importance of self-efficacy) (2024) - for sextet and localized electronics

James Layton is a British composer, musician, and visual artist currently based in Oslo, Norway. His work often explores non-climactic forms, which slowly unfold and focus on the juxtaposition of progression and stasis. His use of patterns, permutations, and repetition aims to draw listeners into the music while exploring ideas of time and memory. This work is often informed by his interest in visual art, particularly the works of Agnes Martin, Sol Lewitt, and Bridget Riley.

James’ compositional output includes works for opera (saudade 2022), orchestra (focal 2019), chamber music (honour thy error as a hidden intention 2023), choir (veering slowly, losing identity 2023), as well as electro-acoustic music (are we on other, less concrete shores? 2021), and collaborations with dance (Rock-A-Bye 2023) and visual media (time spent 2023). This work has been performed around Europe by musicians and ensembles such as Cikada (NO), Orkest de Ereprijs (NE), I Solisti (BE), Ensemble Spectrum (SK), Stephen Upshaw (US/UK), Standard Issue (UK) Ensemble Ernst (NO), Ostravská Banda (CZ) and ONO – Ostrava New Orchestra (CZ), including at festivals such as Bergen Festspillene (2024), Bijloke Wonderland (2023), NODO/New Opera Days Ostrava (2022) and Ostrava New Music Days (2019).

i think i can (or the importance of self-efficacy) (2024) - for sextet and localized electronics

Anthony Tan