Written, recorded and produced by Phil Steadman for my daughter's wedding on 7th July 2021.  All queries to phil@philsteadman.com

Love '94

Lusty Beg Island

On the Other Side of the Camera

2020

The Journey

The Eye of Horus

Crimson Blue

Lough Erne

Phil Steadman's Album

The Science of Love master 1

Elizabeth was composed by Phil Steadman for the Queen's Silver Jubilee in 2022.  The work is a tone poem which describes the life of Elizabeth for her 70 years on the throne since 1952 as Britain's longest reigning Monarch.  It starts with the Death of her father and as she realises she is to become Queen.  The piece moves into a theme which represents her early reign.  The slow section that follows represents the Royal family's troubles in the 1990's including the divorce of Charles and Diana and the subsequent death of Diana.  The following section is tribute to the Queen's stoicism and her dedication to duty.  Finally the theme is repeated in a manner that represents the strength of the monarchy and the support by so many of the British public and from around the world.
The work was recorded by the Northern Film Orchestra in February 2023.
Please inform the PRS if this work is played in public.

Elizabeth

Concerto for Horn in F in the Key of F in 3 movements:
This is a midi mock-up, not a live recording.

Mvmt I, Briksdal Glacier – approx. 6m 27s
This, the 1st mvmt starts in the peaceful village of Olden at the far end of Innvikfjorden. It depicts the grand, towering valley walls and the low cloud that slowly disperses as the sun burns it away to reveal the mountain tops and the crisp, fresh air.

We soon begin a helicopter flight, ascending rapidly above the clouds and weaving in and out of the snow capped peaks before we reach Birskdal Glacier. The sight is breathtaking which leads us to pause and take it all in (the Horn cadenza) before catching our breath again.

We then return to the valley where our journey concludes the first movement.

Mvmt II, The Seven Sisters and the Suitor – approx. 6m 22s
This 2nd mvmt of the Horn Concerto is set in the Norwegian Fjords on Geirangerfjorden. The Fjord with its calm water and stunning mountains rising to over approximately 900 feet is adorned with spectacular waterfalls. The most spectacular of these are named the Seven Sisters due to there being a cluster of 7 waterfalls cascading over 800 feet into the Fjord below. Legend has it that the "Seven Sisters" were all unmarried sisters and the falls of water represent the playfulness of the sisters. Directly across the Fjord is another spectacular waterfall named The Suitor, whose falls represent his flirty attempts to court the sisters. The Suitor splits out from a single fall of water to form a shape resembling a wine bottle. It is said that his failed attempts at courting led to him drinking himself to death.

The movement starts as we sail along the tranquil waters of the stunning Geirangerfjorden. The captivating scenery extends out of the water in the form of steep, densely wooded mountains reaching up to clear blue skies. The air is fresh and clean and the sounds of waterfalls from the melting ice of the glaciers above come and go as we near and pass them.

We round a bend in the Fjord and the splendour of the mountains come into view. Very soon we see Seven Sisters come into view.

The horn starts a new melody with a pulsing back rhythm and a building accompaniment, representing the sisters frolicking and teasing their potential suitor.

We then turn our attention to the other site of the Fjord where the Suitor resides, woefully observing the sisters who have rejected his attentions and soon witness the culmination of his frustration as he drinks himself into a stupor. 

We sail back into the calm waters of the Fjord leaving behind the trauma of the legend and taking in the peace and tranquillity of the region as the sound of the waterfalls fades into the distance.

Mvmt III, Sverd I fjell (Swords in Rock) – approx. 6m 17s
The final movement tells the story of Sverd I fjell, a monument of three swords set a rock near to the city of Stavanger in Norway.  The swords stand 33 feet (10m) high and are planted into a small hill on the side of Hafrsfjord as a monument to the battle of Hafrsfjord in year 872 which took place there in the year 872, when King Harald Fairhair gathered all of Norway under one crown. The largest sword represents the victorious Harald, and the two smaller swords represent the defeated petty kings. The monument also represents peace, since the swords are planted into solid rock, so they may never be removed. 

The movement starts with the battle and moves onto the victory of King Fairhair. After these two themes, there is a representation of the calmness of the fjord. It represents the still, shining lake and they echo of the hunting horn, which could be considered comical, as the horn player at-tempts to outwit the echo to no avail, resulting in a little frustration.  

The peace following the battle and represented by the monument follows this part of the movement and then moves into a rousing finale to the concerto.

Concerto for Horn in F - Full

Phil Steadman

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