This dark piece originally began as an experiment capturing the waves of sound produced by looping an electric guitar.

However, it became far more when I returned to it and revised it. From starting out as merely a quirky experiment it grew into the 11-minute statement that we hear here. 

Three solo, muted double basses begin an insistent yet mysterious rhythmic pulse. 'Cellos then violas gradually join to create the intended somber web. A heartbeat is mimicked throughout the piece and is heard most clearly in the central "B" section. A modified return of the opening encases the work.

While working on the piece, someone I knew tragically passed away. Being an Elegy anyway I did not hesitate in dedicating the piece to them. I had wondered for a while what the music was supposed to be lamenting.
The work is scored for 10 violins, 5 violas, 5 cellos and 3 double basses. The sounds are Sibelius 7.5 sounds.

Image: Lake District Cumbria taken by the composer

Elegy And Meditation For 23 Solo Strings and bass drum

The introduction and first movement ("Summer") of my four-movement orchestral work depicting nature and a human's place in it/perception of it and themself.

The other three movements are "Autumn", "Winter" and "Nocturne". The work features a solo double bass in all of its movements, representing a Human aspect in an otherwise Nature-filled entity. A dark, mist-filled introduction fills out into the first movement, depicting a Summer haze and shade.

Instrumentation:

Flutes I,II
Oboes I, II
Cor Anglais
Clarinets in A I, II
Bass Clarinet in Bb
Bassoons I, II
Contrabassoon
Horns in F I, II, III, IV (at times mutes, others stopped)
Trumpets in Bb I, II, III (at times using straight or cup mutes)
Tenor Trombones I, II (at times using cup mutes)
Bass Trombone (at times using a cup mute)
Timpani (with soft sticks and at times with a cymbal placed on top)
Bass Drum
Tam-Tam
Vibraphone (with rubber sticks and with the motor off)
Harp
Solo Double Bass
Violins I and II (divided into 2)
Violas (divided into 2)
'Cellos (divided into 2)
Double Basses

The sounds are Sibelius 7.5 sounds.

Image: Winter Sun, Ilkley Moor, Yorkshire (taken by the composer)

(I Intro And Summer)

An electronic piece created on Logic conjuring up the city of Tokyo. The synth sounds are Astronaut's Capsule (possibly incorrect), Arctic Wind and Burnt Pad 

Tokyo

A studio recording of my piece for piano and voice setting Philip Larkin's poem The Trees.

Voice: Bryony Davies
Piano: The Composer
Recorded and mixed by Andy Barraclough

Image: Woods in Somerset, England (taken by the composer)

The Trees

The second movement ("Autumn") of my four-movement orchestral work depicting nature and a human's place in it/perception of it and themself.

The other three movements are "Introduction and Summer", "Winter" and "Nocturne". The work features a solo double bass in all of its movements, representing a Human aspect in an otherwise Nature-filled entity. 

In "Autumn", stopped horns and muted brass are interwoven with muted/unmuted strings, mixtures of sul ponticello, sul tasto and harp bisbigliando. Browns, yellows and reds of falling leaves swirl in a haze of nostalgia and decay.

The instrumentation is slightly more delicate to that of the first movement ("Summer"):

Flute
Alto Flute
Bass Flute
Oboe
Cor Anglais
Clarinet in A 
Bassoon
4 Horns in F 
2 Tenor Trombones 
Timpani
Harp
Solo Double Bass
Strings

The sounds are Sibelius 7.5 sounds.

Image: Wood in East Devon (taken by the composer)

"Autumn" (II)

The third movement ("Winter") (Lento espressivo e molto tranquillo) of my four-movement orchestral work depicting nature and a human's place in it/perception of it and themself.

The other three movements are "Introduction and Summer", Autumn" and "Nocturne". The work features a solo double bass in all of its movements except for this movement, representing a Human aspect in an otherwise Nature-filled entity. The double bass as a whole has a two-note motif (natural harmonics) representing the same thoughts/memories before it is overcome with the differing surroundings.

Instrumentation:

Piccolo
2 Flutes
Alto Flute
Bass Flute
Oboe d'amore
Cor Anglais
Clarinet in Bb
Bassoon
4 Horns in F
Trumpet in Bb
Euphonium
Bass Tuba in Eb
Tam Tam
Timpani
Vibraphone (at times bowed with double bass bows)
Harp
Strings

Image: Snow at Hebdon Bridge, Yorkshire (taken by the composer)

III (Winter)

The fourth movement ("Nocturne" (Eclipse)) (Lento e molto espressivo, misterioso e elegico) of my four-movement orchestral work depicting nature and a human's place in it/perception of it and themself.

The other three movements are "Introduction and Summer", "Autumn" and "Winter". The work features a solo double bass in all of its movements except for "Winter", representing a Human aspect in an otherwise Nature-filled entity. The double bass as a whole has a two-note motif (natural harmonics) representing the same thoughts/memories before it is overcome with the differing surroundings. In this last movement, we reach the darkness, both Natural and Human, that the work has attempted to chart.

Instrumentation:

2 Flutes
2 Oboes
Cor Anglais
2 Clarinets in A
2 Bassoons
Contrabassoon
4 Horns in F
3 Trumpets in Bb
2 Tenor Trombones
Bass Trombone
Timpani
Bass Drum
Vibraphone 
Harp
Double Bass solo
Strings

Image: Night at Grinshill, Shropshire 
The sounds, again unfortunately are Sibelius 7.5 sounds

IV (Nocturne) (Eclipse)

A live recording of my Flute Quintet. 

Flute I: Helen Coates
Flute II: Hannah Mercer
Flute III: Hannah Brownjohn
Alto Flute: Sarah Merry
Bass Flute: Sarah Batten

Image: Remnants of frost upon Burley/Ilkley Moor, Yorkshire (taken by the composer).

Flute Quintet (Live Recording)

Funky Groove

Chilled Out Piano Improvisation

Another ethereal piece created on Logic using Breathless Oboe, Aurora Borealis and Bliss sounds, this time conjuring up, for me at least, a full moon lighting icy lakes and nearby snow.

Image: Hubble Deep Field

Xam22 - Composer/Pianist

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