Composed by Sophie Sully for a play written by Georgia Affonso.

We all know the classic fairy tales that used to send us all to sleep, 'Cinderella', 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears', 'Rumplestiltskin' - and then there are the ones our parents decided to leave on the shelf ... 'stick, stock, stone dead' is a dark humoured take on the fairy tale 'The Rose Tree'. A brother and his feathered sister struggle to come to terms with a recent tragedy in their family and look for a way to get revenge. They contemplate all of life's questions. How do you adapt to a life with wings? What happens when your sister's manic, evil stepmother, is your loving mother? And what is in that stew? This is a story about youth, beauty and chia seeds retold through rhyme, song, dance and a chilling score.

Conductor - Rory Johnston
Flute - Judith Scholes
Clarinet - Jasmine Simons
Harp - Becki McIlroy
Timpani - Dan Nolan
Percussion - Matt Edwards
Violin - Mabon Jones
Cello - Xander Baker

Photo credit Michael Phillips

Stick Stock Stone Dead - a play with music

Prologue from Stick, Stock, Stone Dead - a play with music

Composed by Sophie Sully.
Performed by Benedict Holland.
℗ Psappha Ensemble 2015

This suite for Solo Violin was inspired by the views from the top of the Ythsie (pronounced 'icy') prop near Tarves, Aberdeenshire. The four movements are inspired by four places that can be seen from the top of the prop and each explores a distinctive characteristic of a traditional form of Scottish folk music: the elaborate theme and variation of the Ceòl Mór, the dexterity showcase of the Reel, the simple melody of the Ayre and the fast and flowing Slip Jig and Stathspey Reel.

Completed as part of the 'Composing for Violin' scheme run by Psappha Ensemble.
Full video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFXj89Any_c

Ythsie - a suite for Solo Violin

Ythsie (a suite for Solo Violin) - IV. The Morning Fog (Slip Jig and Strathspey Reel)

Ythsie (a suite for Solo Violin) - III. The Upper Lake (Ayre)

Ythsie (a suite for Solo Violin) - II. The Unrelenting Sea (Reel)

Ythsie (a suite for Solo Violin) - I. View From The Prop

Composed by Sophie Sully. Text by Spencer Neal.
℗ Sam Gee 2016

Conductor - Rory Johnston
Soprano - Lizzy Humphries
Alto Flute - Elizabeth Ditmanson
Cello - Robin Wallington

This song cycle brings together three independent poems by Spencer Neal on the subject of nature. Although these poems describe very different scenes, they share between them ideas of the beauty and power of nature and these ideas are reflected in the settings and the music alongside them.

Settings of Nature

Settings of Nature - IV. Autumn Morning

Settings of Nature - III. Interlude

Settings of Nature - II. Wild

Settings of Nature - I. Planting Seeds

Estival 'Mashup' Collaboration

Stick, Stock, Stone Dead - a play with music (Full Recording)

Sophie is a Manchester-based composer and recently graduated with a Masters in Music (Instrumental Composition) from the University of Manchester studying under Professor Camden Reeves. She is interested in retelling and reviving traditional fairy tales, folklore and folk music from the British Isles, as well as setting and combining new and old poetry. Sophie has had works commissioned and performed by Psappha Ensemble, the Danel Quartet, Vonnegut Collective, Vaganza (as part of New Music North West 2013 and 2016), Collective31, RNCM, Manchester Art Gallery, No Dice Collective, No Door Theatre Company, Manchester University Saxophone Choir and other soloists.

Sophie Sully - Music

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