Sea Dreams

Sea Dreams was written in memory of the composer's wife, Jean. After an introduction, which is not heard again until the end of the piece, the music becomes a rondo allegro, and gradually builds to a big climax. At the very end there is an oblique reference to the 'Liebestod' of Wagner's Tristan and Isolde.

Genre: Band | # of Players: Standard
Level: 5.5 | Duration: 15:00

Instrumentation
Piccolo
Flute 1
Flute 2
Oboe 1
Oboe 2
English Horn
Eb Clarinet
Bb Clarinet 1
Bb Clarinet 2
Bb Clarinet 1
Bb Bass Clarinet
Bassoon 1
Bassoon 2
Contrabassoon
Eb Alto Saxophone 1
Eb Alto Saxophone 2
Bb Tenor Saxophone
Eb Baritone Saxophone

F Horn 1
F Horn 2
F Horn 3
F Horn 4
Bb Trumpet 1
Bb Trumpet 2
Bb Trumpet 3
Trombone 1
Trombone 2
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba

String Bass

Timpani
Percussion (snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, tam tam)
Mallets
Harp
Piano/Celesta

Program Notes
Sea Dreams was originally a commission, in 2007, from an American University who wanted me to write a piece in memory of my first wife, Jean, who died in 2006. I set about writing the music and quickly completed the score early in 2008, but, unfortunately, because of the sudden collapse in the worldwide financial markets the commission itself fell through.

The music draws on three of the pieces that I had written for Jean in the early days before we were married, namely two violin sonatas (she was a violinist) and the ‘Serenade’ Opus 22 one of my most popular pieces. However the bulk of the music is new, and the quotes from these early pieces are subtle and merely passing references, not at all like the originals.

After an introduction, which is not heard again until the end of the piece, the music becomes a rondo allegro, and gradually builds to a big climax. At the very end there is an oblique reference to the 'Liebestod' of Wagner's Tristan and Isolde.

Sea Dreams was premiered by Birmingham Symphonic Winds, conducted by Keith Allen, on Saturday March 20th 2010 at the CBSO Centre, Birmingham, England.