Composition Competition

“Trimcomalee - A Sea Shanty”

Trincomalee is an original composition for viola and piano. I

was inspired to write this Sea Shanty by a visit to the HMS

Trincomalee, the historic Navy frigate now preserved in

Hartlepool. The piece draws on the rhythmic drive of a

traditional Sea Shanty, evoking the North East's deep

connection with the sea and also taps into a recent resurgence

in popularity of the Sea Shanty, made famous on YouTube by

viral songs such as The Wellerman! I am originally from

South Tyneside and raised in Northumberland. I now perform

and teach violin and viola across the North East and this piece

reflects my connection to the area as well as my desire toinspire and engage young viola players with accessible and

culturally relevant music.

Town Moor Walking

It’s a Sunday afternoon and you are taking a relaxed walk

across Newcastle’s Town Moor - you have nothing else to do

today. The breeze is blowing gently through your hair and you

see the branches on the trees sway playfully. You take a deep

breath before scaling Cow Hill - it is not Everest but you can

still feel your body working. When you reach the top you can

see the whole Town Moor and the sprawling city of Newcastle

in all directions.

Little March after Haydn

le March after Haydn (short)

This short march is in the style of Joseph Haydn and I have

tried to capture some of his sense of humour. It is in D major,

but it asks the violist to play C naturals and G sharps,

suggesting that the tonality is mobile, but in quite a subtle

way. While it is a march, there is an opportunity to flex the

tempo slightly at the end of the middle section. It is a quiet

and understated piece, but with a swell in dynamics in the

middle. The music ends quietly with some fun pizzicato.