composition
The intellectual intricacies of composition lured Andrew at the age of thirteen years. At that age it was an unusual approach to pop songs that occupied him, but at fifteen he completed his first symphonic work, The Passage of Time, for an expanded orchestra and choir.
Further 'early' works followed quickly, including parts of a requiem mass, a number of choral miniatures, and also some self-sufficient pieces for choir and a solo instrument inspired by The Hilliard Ensemble with Jan Garbarek.
In spite of considerable work on compositional exercises, through sixth form and university, only a few complete pieces were written, including: a fanfare called Strange Resolutions, written to open the Tenby Arts Festival in 2004; Phases of Desolation, a sequence of songs for high voice and piano; and a set of variations on the hymn Abbot's Leigh.
Since graduation, composition has begun again, and Andrew has thus far produced numerous arrangements of carols and folk songs; a setting of The Very Hungry Choir for children's voices, piano, and strings; a short work for recorder and string quartet, named "From Castle Hill", commissioned by the remarkable recorder virtuoso, John Turner; and several sketches for an opera based on a Sherlock Holmes story, and a requiem incorporating poems.
A number of his pieces have been performed to considerable acclaim including an opening fanfare for the Tenby Arts Festival that received a standing ovation; a song sequence for soprano and piano, which earned the praise 'the next Benjamin Britten'; and a considerable number of simple arrangements and choral miniatures that are in regular use.
Andrew is constantly searching for fresh inspiration, and would be delighted to receive either commissions or suggestions from anyone interested in his work.
Below are some compositions that are viewable using Sibelius Software's Scorch plug-in. While these cannot be printed from this site, some of them are available for free via my sibeliusmusic homepage.
An arrangement of Scarborough Fair, Phases of Desolation: After, This bread I break, Tears.
