Awake the Dawn!

Uhtceare for Flute Percussion Violin and Cello. Composed 2014 published 2016. Score included in UYMP's Firewheel Anthology (ISMN M-57036-615-6) recorded by Dark Inventions. Duration: 8'30'. Uhtceare is an Old English word meaning ‘anxiety before dawn’ surely a familiar experience to many not just the Anglo-Saxons. I particularly associate it with the half-awake early-morning asthma attacks that I had as a child. The piece starts in a nocturnal dreamlike state with chords that pulse gently like the rise and fall of breaths. These swelling patterns become increasingly fraught while soloists sporadically emerge witha sense of urgency and culminate in a loud chaotic passage where the percussionist moves from tuned Percussion to Drums. Following this the Flute plays agile looping figures that are soon mimicked by the Violin and then the Vibraphone. These figures are frenetic but harmonically static so that when all three instruments are playing them simultaneously there is a whirlwind of activity that paradoxically seems to remain stationary. I thought this was a fitting musical analogue for the fruitless but insistent circling of anxious early-morning thoughts. A dramatic Cello solo interrupts these imitative cycles and leads the ensemble in a cacophonous final crescendo. Commissioned by Dark Inventions and first performed by them on 8th May 2014 at The Engine House Manchester.

REVEILLE RETRAITE for solo trumpetA joint commission between Håkan Hardenberger and Danmarks RadioDedicated to Håkan HardenbergerProgramme note:Everybody knows or has at least heard of the time honoured military bugle calls: Reveille Retraite the awakening at sunrise the turning in at sunset. In a way it's the UR concept of the nature of the trumpet an instrument capable of glorious panache as well as sublime inward looking finesse. My piece is as indicated in the title a two fold composition in the form of two contrasting tone poems each mirroring a fragment of original text what one could call spiritual appetizers. At the end of chapter 8 of his high spiritedMemoirs Hector Berlioz laments the murder of a man he admired Prince Lichnowsky who was stabbed to death in Frankfurt in September 1848 by German peasants: 'Oh I must get out walk run shout under the open sky! ' Now there's a juicy bit of high strung romantic Sturm und Drang for you and the perfect motto for any awakening... Then night fall Retraite in which I've drawn upon the early melancholy poem ALONE by Edgar Allan Poe and taken out one single line as 'subtitle' for this very hushed and withdrawn movement: 'And all I lov’d I lov’d alone. ' I guess it won't hurt to quote the poem in its entirety:'From childhood's hour I have not beenAs others were I have not seenAs others saw I could not bringMy passions from a common spring.From the same source I have not takenMy sorrow; I could not awakenMy heart to joy at the same tone;And all1 lov’d I lov’d alone.THEN in my childhood in the dawnOf a most stormy life was drawnFrom ev’ry depth of good and illThe mystery which binds me still:From the torrent or the fountain From the red cliff of the mountain From the sun that 'round me roll`dIn its autumn tint of gold From the lightning in the skyAs it pass’d me flying by From the thunder and the storm And the cloud that took the form(When the rest of Beaven was blue)Of a demon in my view.'Edgar Allan PoeProgramme note by Poul Ruders

Uses: General Call to Worship Scripture: Psalm 108 Scripture forms the foundation of this powerful new offering and the music gives a confident call to worship. Carefully crafted with attention todetail this anthem creates a large effect without the anxiety of being overly difficult. Musical contrast is abundant and the supportive and expressive accompaniment completes the message. Available separately: SATB Orchestration (Score and parts for Trumpet 1&2 Trombone 1&2 (opt. Horn sub.) Bass Trombone and Timpani) Digital Handbells (4 octaves) StudioTrax CD. Duration: ca. 3:55.

A modern-day praise anthem this work by Bert Stratton and Vicki Tucker Courtney will find a place in a blended or traditional service. The encouraging text coupled with the energetic melody will generate a time of high praise foryour congregation. Available separately: SATB ChoirTrax CD. Score and parts (fl ob cl bn tpt 1-3 hn tbn 1-2 tbn 3/tba perc timp rhythm vn 1-2 va vc db) available as a CD-ROM and as a digital download. Duration: ca.3:15.

28 classiques John McLaughlin sélectionnés parmis les 4 albums suivants : Inner Mounting Flame - Birds Of Fire - Visions Of The Emerald Beyond - Between Nothingness and Eternity / Guitare