This is a 5-minute sample of the music I wrote for piano and orchestra describing a traverse of the Black Cuillin Ridge in Skye. The landscape is unique in Britain, being the most Alpine mountain chain of sharp peaks, narrow ridges and deep rocky corries. The ridge can be traversed in a long, tiring day. The music describes this. This sample presents the elation at reaching the first peak, the ridge walk and the wild corries.

Black Cuillin Ridge (Sample)

This is the second new Companion to cheer Schubert up. While the anxiety he conveyed in his own 8th Symphony is still here, rearing up in a variety of forms, like someone complaining about a variety of misfortunes, the general trend is for this anxiety to be soothed and dissipated as the movement goes on. A kind of "questing and coming home" story, finishing with the opening notes repeated, but in reverse order. The name of this Companion is Pacithea, after a Greek goddess who calms things down, mother of Morpheus.

Another New Companion (2)

The fourth Torridon giant is Liathach, a long narrow fin of rock composed of Torridon Sandstone and Cambrian quartzite, which starts steadily, then breaks into pinnacles. This gave rise in the music to a Toccata section, after which a theme from Old Red Sandstone comes in as a fugue to be played at the same time. Following this, firstly the original Queen of Mountains tune and then also a theme from the first movement is played together alongside the toccata. The horn trio makes a reappearance and the suite finishes with ecstatic trills.

4. Queen Of Mountains

I'm still beavering away composing more than ever now my 40-year career as a countryside ranger is over. The places I have lived are the greatest sources of inspiration, and I'm very grateful for the support I've received from a wide range of listeners. In 2017 I moved from the Cairngorms to near Kyle of Lochalsh where I operate as a mountain guide in Skye.

4. Queen Of Mountains

Nic56

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