Short solo piano piece (2020)played by Maija Varvatsis. Recorded in Sonning Church June 2021.

Dusty

Hens' Teeth

Two Figures In The Grass (2023) (Demo)

For piano (keyboard and inside strings) with sustaining pedal and amplification

Inspired by a picture of an open sarcophagus (stone coffin) from ancient Egypt



Five Improvisations :   No 2  Opening the Sarcophagus

Commissioned by Saint John’s College, Cambridge, this setting of short episodes from one of the older texts of the York Mystery Play Cycle, is predominantly based on the Gospel of Saint Matthew, chapter 3 verses 1 - 17. It has a very simple musical structure, alternating boisterous, jig-like, two-part homophony with much slower, reflective, polyphony. The harmonic nuances recall the folkmusic of the Middle East (the actual location of John’s nervously hesitant baptising of Christ).

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Michael Finnissy: John the Baptist

My setting of the English poet Wilfred Owen's early poem 'Deep Under Turfy Grass' written when he was living in the village of Dunsden, Oxfordshire prior to WW1. Composed 2013-15.

Performed by Nigel Evans-Thompson (Baritone) and Matthew Rickard (Piano). 

Recorded at University of Surrey, November 2015. Recording made by Robert Gilmour. Copyright: David Breeze 2016.

"Deep under turfy grass and heavy clay
They laid her bruisèd body, and the child
Poor victims of a swift mischance were they,
Adown Death's trapdoor suddenly beguiled.
I, weeping not, as others, but heart-wild,
Affirmed to Heaven that even Love's fierce flame
Must fail beneath the chill of this cold shame.

So I rebelled, scorning and mocking such
As had the ignorant callousness to wed
On altar steps long frozen by the touch
Of stretcher after stretcher of our dead.
Love's blindness is too terrible, I said;
I will go counsel men, and show what bin
The harvest of their homes is gathered in.

But as I spoke, came many children nigh,
Hurrying lightly o'er the village green;
Methought too lightly, for they came to spy
Into their playmate's bed terrene.
They clustered round; some wondered what might mean
Rich-odoured flowers so whelmed in fetid earth;
While some Death's riddle guessed ere that of Birth.

And there stood one Child with them, whose pale brows
Wore beauty like our mother Eve's; whom seeing,
I could not choose but undo all my vows,
And cry that it were well that human Being
And Birth and Death should be, just for the freeing
Of one such face from Chaos' murky womb,
For Hell's reprieve is worth not this one bloom."

Wilfred Owen (1912-13)

Deep Under Turfy Grass

Will White @ The Glade Glastonbury 2016

A mysterious thrill ride into all thing sci-fi.

Veils of the Mind was written in mind for a Sci-Fi thriller.

I had the pleasure of getting my track, Veils Of The Mind re-mastered by the team over at Fredtracks (MASTERING TRUE MUSIC)
@fredtracks

If you'd like your music professionally mastered I'd recommend checking them out!

Hope you enjoy!

Veils of the Mind

Tomorrow

Saying Mariella Frostrup's name 555 times

Recorded specially for Graham Dunning!

MARIELLA FROSTRUP [555 repetitions]

I liked the sound of a glass breaking in the background of an Edith Piaf song.

shine another glass make the hours pass

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBfwrchBkxTuzZgkg4XxT8Q



Five Improvisations : No 2 Opening the Sarcophagus

David Breeze

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