Before the Mountains

I have just completed a setting of Psalm 90 for SATB.

1 (A Prayer of Moses the man of God.) Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.

2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

3 Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.

4 For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.

5 Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up.

6 In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.

7 For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.

8 Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.

9 For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.

10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

11 Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.

12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

13 Return, O LORD, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants.

14 O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

15 Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil.

16 Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children.

17 And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.

Voces 8 singing "Remember Now"

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What a fantastic time we had in St. Andrews! In 36 hours we travelled 600 miles on 7 trains and 2 buses, toured the cathedral in sunshine and the castle under silvery skies. We even fitted in a flying visit to the Medieval Church in Leuchars before heading home. But the highlight was spending Thursday evening in the company of Voces 8, as with good humour and consummate talent, they patiently performed 4 new compositions and led critical discussion with each composer. Thank you, Voces 8 and thanks also to Chris Bragg, Sonia Stevenson and Bede Williams for arranging the event.

"Tapestry of Love" released by Soundiff

One of my compositions, Tapestry of Love, is included on Soundiff's latest release, Miniatures vol 1. The piece is for solo flute.

This work alludes to the love of Penelope, waiting decades for the return of her Odysseus. She weaves the tapestry to stall her suitors, promising to marry when it is complete. Every time she finishes the tapestry, she unravels all of her work to buy Odysseus more time. The recapitulation of the theme in this work echoes that fact, presenting the same notes with slightly different articulations, just as the same tapestry would be almost identical and yet differ in the details. The coda to the work sets aside the activity of sewing, for the stillness of resolution - the return of the beloved.

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