Knots is a six movement suite inspired by the motion, anatomy and theatre of marionettes. The movements are not programmatic, but a series of imaginary tableaus.

I. Strings imagines a group of marionettes awaking for the first time. They learn to move and overcome the limitations of strings. It also introduces ideas from later movements.

II. Lull is a set of lullabies that drift between the different states of consciousness one experiences when falling asleep: wakefulness, the dreamy world of hypnagogia and sleep.

III. Scurry illustrates a swarm of tiny mischievous marionettes scurrying about, causing chaos in a workshop and then fall through into the next movement via an attacca.

IV. The Kašpárek is a jester from the Czech Republic. He entertains the rabble of mischievous marionettes from the previous movement with an acrobatic routine. The movement ends in a frenzy of laughter followed by a final acrobatic joke.

V. Prayers portrays a crowd of marionettes praying together. It explores the prayer of the individual as well as the group as a whole. The starting point came from hearing the Adhan in Marrakech. The sound of so many mosques starting their calls to prayer at slightly different times created this incredible dense, polyphonic, textural cloud!

VI. Dance is set of dances for a medieval court of marionettes. Marionettes are a strange sort that love interchanging between dances as and when they please! The sound-worlds were inspired by the 1360 Minstrels’ Gallery in Exeter Cathedral depicting 12 angels playing instruments.

Flute - Kris Swain
Oboe - Lavinia Redman
Cor Angles - David Hasler
Clarinet - Sergi Bayarri Sancho
Bassoon - William Gough
French Horn - Ona Ramos
Violin - Laura Custodio Sabas
Viola - Matthew Olyver
Cello - Akito Goto
Double Bass - Dominique Chabot

V. Prayers

III. Scurry & IV. Kašpárek

II. Lull

I. Strings

"Focus" is a personal response to aspects of lockdown during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

After the initial shock subsided, time appeared to freeze. Within the general feeling of disorientation and disarray, glimmers of beauty emerged. External distractions, which are all too often the most apparent, were replaced by those from within. In response to this, I strove to focus upon introspection.

This composition might be viewed as a struggle between two states of mind, as represented by the two instruments. The violin, more usually the protagonist in this combination, is meditative and introspective, whereas the piano represents the wandering mind, with a series of thoughts, dreams and anxieties attempting to disturb the violin’s intense focus.

Violin - Laura Custodio Sabas
Piano - Tyler Hay

Focus for violin and piano

Violin - Danielė Brekytė
Viola - Ryan Davis
Violoncello - Fiona Robson

Ring Out! for string trio

Vodník for solo piano

British-Czech Composer | Britten Pears Young Artist 2022-23 | London Philharmonic Orchestra Young Composer 2022-23 | Royal Philharmonic Society Composer 2023

Philip Dutton

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