Orchestral
5 Songs (Ivor Gurney) 5
The final song in the series is a desolate tone picture reflecting the poem from the first world war. Full of parallel 2nds and 9ths, the orchestration and fragmented vocal line eventually fade into darkness. This recording is again the clarinet version.
5 Songs (Ivor Gurney) 4
The fourth song is a quite contrast with a simpler texture and sustained melodic line. Space in orchestration it reflects the sadness of the poets longing for space to express his artistry. This again is the viola transcription.
5 Songs (Ivor Gurney)
The central song is the most extended of the five, in clear ternary from. The dissonant outer episodes are contrasted with a more lyrical central section and coda. The is the full orchestral version, with a CG vocal line.
5 Songs (Ivor Gurney) 2
The second song in the cycle features a perpetual semiquaver accompaniment. The vocal part is a more lyrical line, with some rhythmic twists. This is the piano and viola transcription.
Royal High School Suite for Strings (1)
A three-movement suite for full five-part string section with a decorative viola solo in the reflective slow movement. The opening movement is in sonata form with the finale a ‘mock’ Scottish jig with solos for the principal players.
Clarinet Concerto (1)
A large scale, thirty minute work for soloist and large orchestra. This first movement follows a sonata-principle form outline with the cadenza in the traditional place, immediately before the recapitulation.
Viola Concertino
A work for solo viola and chamber orchestra. Modelled on the baroque concerto with a ritornello first movement. The second movement is a meditation on Ca the Yowes and the final a ‘jolly’ rondo.
This is the finale.
5 Songs (Ivor Gurney) 1
This is a series of five songs setting short poems of the poet and composer. Also available as clarinet and viola concert suites. First performed at the University of Edinburgh 2013. This is the opening song in clarinet version.
Belmont Meditation
A reflective and largely serene meditation on the well-known eponymous Scottish Psalm melody. For chamber orchestra, it also exists in a piano quintet version. In
cyclic form, ABCBA, the central section is for strings alone.
Concerto Grosso
A piece for three (variable) soloists written for school use. Originally for 2 descant recorders and violin. Exemplifies some Baroque stylistic concepts and performed several times with alternative instruments in the concertino.
Skyline
The second of the “Edinburgh Sketches’ after ‘Tramworks’. A musical description of the view from the church where it was first performed – St. Serf’s in North Edinburgh. Scanning the skyline, after an introduction, we see (and hear) the Arthur’s Seat hills, the bustle of the town and the central section describing the castle at night. We then revisit the town and end up in the ‘tonal’ Pentland hills.
First performed in March 2025 by the New Edinburgh Orchestra conducted by the ever-watchful Tim Paxton.
Tramworks
This orchestral sketch is one of two written so far to reflect Edinburgh life. Written between 2011-13, it attempts to remind listeners of the constant noise and disruption during these years caused by the tram construction work. For full orchestra, it has contrasting dynamic sections in a modified rondo form.