H99 Organ Book 2 (2023)

Programme note:

Organ Book 2 is a collection of four pieces as follows:

River (after Kelly) relates to American artist, Ellsworth Kellyʼs large River lithographs (2004) which are either single panels or come as a frieze of 4 to 8. They are black on white, rectilinear, abstract sweeping images of what looks like fast moving water caught in the corner of the eye. I was interested in trying to find a way of capturing the same disturbing feeling of being close to a deluge and yet always on the verge of being swept away by it. 
S.H. 
11 July 2025
Duration: c.4 minutes

Sísifo (after Ribera) draws on a painting by Jusepe de Ribera, one of the greatest Spanish painters of the early 17th century who often depicted gruesome scenes of calamity and distress. His portrait of Sisyphus, naked and eternally pushing his huge stone uphill in the underworld, could be understood on some level as a metaphor for the struggle of every artist that has ever lived. Going nowhere fast and then having to start again as the stone rolls back down the hill. Sisyphus was doomed to repeat this action due to an attack of hubris thinking that he might be equal to or better than the gods.
S.H.
11 July 2025
Duration: c.3.5 minutes 

For this trio sonata, a loose wire (after Ribera), I have adapted the string music from an earlier piece, Acrobats on a loose wire, for flute quartet. The title stems from a pen and ink drawing again by Ribera. However, in this trio the acrobats (the solo flute part in the quartet) have quit the scene.
S.H.
11 July 2025
Duration: c.5 minutes

La Voûte (The Vault) is dedicated to the memory of Anthony Gilbert, my tutor from my Royal Northern College of Music days (1978-82) who was a great support then and on through most of my life. He was somebody I could always trust and turn to for advice. He was the first person to take me seriously as a composer from my schooldays onwards. He was passionate about the architecture of Chârtres Cathedral and knew an enormous amount about it. Many of his own pieces were derived from aspects of that astounding building and its glorious windows. This particular vault is inspired by a photograph of the vault of the Basilique de Ste. Marie Madeleine in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume in the Var region of France. It contains possibly my favourite organ designed by members of the Isnard family, namely Jean-Esprit Isnard and his nephew Joseph built between 1772-4. They went on to teach organ building to the Cavaillé-Coll family.
S.H.
11 July 2025
Duration: c.8 minutes