A Memory of the Ocean (2023)
For choir, piano concertante, and solo ‘cello
Approx Duration: 20’
A collection of pieces that can be performed separately or together as movements;
I. A Memory of the Ocean (7’)
II. I Am A Pool (7’)
III. Sea of Amethyst (4’)
Co-commissioned by the Royal Philharmonic Society, with support from the Vaughan Williams Foundation to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Ralph Vaughan Williams, and by the Netherlands Broadcasting Organization AVROTROS.
The world premiere was presented on 24th June 2023 by Bristol Choral Society conducted by Hilary Campbell, and the Dutch premiere was presented on 6 October 2023 in the AVROTROS Friday Concert series with the Netherlands Radio Choir and pianist Hannes Minnaar conducted by Florian Helgath.
‘A Memory of the Ocean (2023) is a collection of pieces scored for choir, piano and violoncello. The texts, comprised of one poem by the composer followed by settings of poetry after Sara Teasdale (1884-1933), are unified by their allusions to the sea. Commissioned to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Ralph Vaughan Williams, the collection is inspired by his work ‘A Sea Symphony’ (composed 1903-1909) as an important work in the history of British choral music in which the chorus is used throughout as a vital part of the work’s texture and colour. Similarly, the choir provides a fundamental surface for the piano to take moments of prominence throughout the pieces. The pieces are either to be performed as a complete collection, or performed individually.’ ©G.E.M.2023
©Cover Image: 'Amethyst Sea’ Digital Painting by Grace-Evangeline Mason 2023
“The music is beguiling, and evokes the changing nature of the ocean”