'...this wild joy'

Over the past year and half I've been writing this song cycle, based on texts from a wonderful anthology of poetry from Shambala Publications on themes of impermanence, mindfulness and joy.  Some of it ancient and not quite so ancient Chinese and Japanese, some of it more modern and Western. 

For most of the poems I've found myself conducting what I've termed 'fieldwork' - being in nature observing elements that form part of the poems, talking to - among others - a Buddhist monk about the notion of interconnectedness, for others drawing on elements of personal experience, including a trek to Everest Base Camp in 2015. 

Scored for quite a darkly rich combination of alto flute, bass clarinet, viola and piano, with mezzo-soprano and baritone, the  work is dedicated to Helen Charlston and MIchael Craddock.