'The Night Sky', for string quintet and soprano, is in three movements: 'inky blackness', 'nature's mockery' and 'an equilibrium of constellations'.

Many thanks to Emily Trubshaw, Jeremy Weinstein, Rob Jones, Sam Weinstein, James Kiln and Katie Ambrose for their performances in this recording.

Movement III:
'It was an impossible entity,
unpredictable yet perfect,
an equilibrium of constellations,
the night sky.

Lyrics and music  © Mary Offer 2021

The Night Sky

III - an equilibrium of constellations

II - nature's mockery

I - inky blackness

The Shallow Abyss, for piano quartet, contrasts depth of intensity with sparseness of texture, conveying its paradoxical title and also inviting the players to improvise based on this concept.

Performed and recorded live by The De Kooning Ensemble at the Guildhall School.

The Shallow Abyss

Viola concerto premiered at the Composer and Concerto Showcase at All Saints Isleworth River of Music
Soloist Robert Jones, Conductor Lucia Švecová

Viola Concerto

Composed for The Ripieno Choir
Original text by Ella Curry

Brave star, of shards of heaven formed, rays warm the stygian night 
They smooth the brow of the infant king with curls of tend’rest light 
The angel arms reach from on high, crown him with golden love 
Proclaim to all, both wise and blind, the sign from God above: 
A star has ris’n, of Jacob born, to set the world alight; 
A man has ris’n, of Israel born, to make the world star-bright.

Music © Mary Offer 2022
Text © Ella Curry 2022

Shards Of Heaven

This shadow,
intangible, ethereal, ephemeral
in unfluctuating symmetry

A shimmer of the sea
the glistening abyss
an eerie sunrise

A wingless bird
taking Flight

Taking flight explores identity, with subtle semitone and microtonal dissonances creating a sense of unease and insecurity. The shadow represents an inescapable reflection of oneself, always in unfluctuating and inescapable symmetry. There is a greater extent of improvisation for the performers as the piece progresses, expressing the freedom of a wingless bird taking flight.

Isabelle Freeman - Soprano
Hannah Dienes-Williams - Soprano
Megan Robinson - Flute
Mika Curson - Recorder
Sameer Aiyar-Majeed - Violin I
Lizzy Martin - Violin I
Sarah Bradley - Violin II
Siân Ellis - Violin II
Robert Jones - Viola
Julius Kiln - Viola
Max Todes - Cello
Hannah Wilkie - Cello
James Kiln - Double Bass
Greg May - Double Bass
Edwin Tang - Percussion

Conducted by Mary Offer
Text and Music © Mary Offer 2022

Taking Flight

The Living Fire
Performed by The Choir of Jesus College, Cambridge
Music by Mary Offer, text by Ella Curry
Cover artwork by Ailsa Critten

We gather close: a warmly gusting wind
Dusted with sunlight bathes us from above;
It sighs the song of ever-burning love
For we who greatly err, so deeply sinned.
Yet, pure amidst the ranks of we chagrined
Descends, alighting soft, a moon-bright dove:
Its wings are flames; the blazing plumes thereof
Bind blooming soul with holy spirit, twinned.
‘Neath parting clouds, fire bathes each low-bowed head,
Old prophesy of men’s deep dreams fulfils,
And all partake of gladly, through God’s will,
The lovely feast with joyous roses red.
In myriad tongues the word of life we spread:
The living fire each heartbeat strengthens still.

Text © Ella Curry 2022
Music © Mary Offer 2022
Artwork © Ailsa Critten 2022

The Living Fire

Our Stricken Earth
Composed by Mary Offer
Conducted by Florence Price
Text by Ella Curry
A choral piece about the climate crisis, commissioned by Florence Price and with text created uniquely for this project by Ella Curry.

‘Where are your flowers, birds, your trees?
Your flitting insects, cloud-kissed skies?’
‘I cannot breathe’, the Earth replies,
‘I struggled, cried, I begged you please.’
Now in the silence of the stagnant breeze,
We see our stricken Earth, we close our eyes -
We sing a Lacrimosa as she dies.

Text © Ella Curry 2024
Music © Mary Offer 2024

Our Stricken Earth

A contemporary carol based on Isaiah 9 and sung by the sopranos and altos of Jesus College Choir, Cambridge.

© Mary Offer 2020

Prince Of Peace

Contemporary Classical Composer 
University of Cambridge | Royal Academy of Music
Seeking to promote contemporary classical instrumental, choral and electronic music.

Mary Offer

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