MetroGnome

After spending time expanding my knowledge of the history of jazz, Metrognome is my first composition which incorporates more modern jazz and considers the importance of each member of the band. The recording is an export from Sibelius with the saxophone played live.

Isle of Nogg

A set of four tunes written on the low whistle arranged for a full orchestra. It won at the Oxfordshire Young Composers Competition and Oxford Music Festival in 2020, but unfortunately was not performed live due to COVID. This recording is the Sibelius output with live whistle recordings.

Jazz Bats

I was asked to write a piece for the Oxfordshire Youth Big Band to perform at the Music for Youth festival in 2020. Unfortunately, it was cancelled due to Covid, but we did get to perform it a few times before lockdown.

Mare Tranquillitatis

As part of my prize for being a winner of the BBC Proms Inspire competition in 2018, I was commissioned by the BBC to compose a piece inspired by the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing.

“Mare Tranquillitatis” follows the journey of Apollo 11 from Earth to the Moon. The first movement describes the take-off – exciting, energetic and ebullient. In the second movement, the pace slows as the astronauts look down on Earth. The third movement implies a sense of danger when the astronauts approach the Moon. The main theme returns as the landing starts, followed by a finale as the Eagle touches down.

It was performed by the Aurora Orchestra, conducted by Duncan Ward, on 13th August 2019 at the BBC Maida Vale Studios, and broadcast on Radio 3 the following week. You can hear it on the BBC’s website.

BBC Proms Inspire

In June 2018 I was named a winner of the BBC Proms Inspire competition for young composers. My piece, “The Weevil’ng“, was performed by Aurora Orchestra, conducted by Christopher Stark, at the Proms Inspire Concert at the BBC’s Radio Theatre on 22 August 2018. 

Rhythm is very important to me as a drummer. I’m interested in unusual time signatures, so set out to see what a piece in 11/8 would sound like.

(published with permission from the BBC, www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p06x2k0s)