The material for this symphonic movement comes from a song for vocalist, saxophone and keyboard: 'Musical chairs for the end of an age', setting the words of Michele Witthaus. She is a Leicester poet who has written a collection of poems during the lockdown ("'From a Sheltered place', published by Wildpressed Books").

Symphony No 8 'Jazz in the lockdown' 1st movement: It's no party

1917. A trumpet calls men to arms. Musical setting of a poem by Edward Thomas. First in a cycle of 15 songs entitled: A Poet's Journey 1914-17

TheTrumpet

Setting of the poem by Edward Thomas, from the song cycle 'A poet's journey 1914-17'.
Lyndon Gardner - tenor
Anthony Wilson - piano

14 The Dark Forest

Sound is on 'Musescore'
Kings College Cambridge have it 'on file', but I don't hold my breath!

Te Deum

A symphony in one movement using themes from 'The Word' oratorio, with the words removed.

Symphony No 7: 'Songs without the words'

Re-orchestrated version of the overture to the main part of the St John Passion

SJP Revised Overture

Using material from the chamber opera: 'Margaret and Arthur', based on a play of the same name.

Symphony No 6: 'Folie a deux' - 1st movement: 'Artorius'

Although a wedding gift, this is as much about the planet, and what heritage there might be for any children.
Here are the words:
What if the love we share
can shield us from the outside world?
If we have love enough,
the madness all around us may seem
less important.

What if the four deadly horsemen
are riding to hunt us down?
If we see them coming,
we can maybe jump out of their way

If we gave up eating meat
and dairy,
and we didn't buy shares
in anything,
would disaster be averted?
What difference can two people make?

What if love is enough,
not just you and me, and family,
but everyone we don't know.
Are they just like us?

What if extinction is postponed
in our lifetime,
or in our childrens', childrens', childrens',
should we decide to have some.
Should we decide to have some?

But if love is enough,
not just you and me, and family,
but everyone we don't know,
it might save the planet;
it might save us all.

A blessing for your wedding

This is just for fun, which they both like!

Duet For Ant And Grace

Setting of a poem called 'A Private' by the WW1 poet, Edward Thomas who was killed near Arras in 1917.
The initial setting was for tenor voice and piano, but I took out the words and arranged it for string quartet.
Thomas was ambiguous about volunteering for the army. His poetry features the English landscape with people missing from it. I tried to capture the conflict of emotion. The cello provides a 'walking bass' that suggests the marching soldier. 'The Private' commemorates a ploughman, used to sleeping out of doors, who now sleeps in the soil in France.

John Middleton