Beacons
Funded by the Arts Council of Wales Cultural Recovery Fund
Beacons is designed for outdoor performances. The music is organised into five ‘movements’. The performance begins with Movements I-IV playing, simultaneously, in different locations, within easy walking distance, but out of earshot from each other. The musicians repeat these movements several times as audience members travel between locations to hear each performance. At a specific cue, or pre-arranged time, the musicians and audience gather together at a central location, where Movement V is performed by the full ensemble.
Movement I: Long Distance Call
Horn and tuba, duration 3’40”
Movement II: Sky and Songbird
a) Sky - flute and soprano saxophone (or clarinet), duration 2’20” b) Songbird - solo flute, duration 1’
Movement III: Escape Route
Solo violin, duration 3’
Movement IV: Codebreakers
Violin, viola, cello, duration 3’40”
Movement V: Beacons
Full ensemble - 5’
Published by Composers Edition
Cowbridge Music Festival - Beacons
Free open air event! (Or… if it’s really wet and windy, you’ll find us in Holy Cross Church.)
There are four separate miniature performances to discover as you walk around the Old Hall Gardens and Physic Garden. Follow the sounds and unravel musical clues to long-distance communication - including morse code and birdsong!
Long Distance Call
Horn and tuba
Sky and Songbird
Sky – flute and clarinet
Songbird - solo flute
Escape Route
Solo violin
Codebreakers
Violin, viola, cello
Then join the musicians as they gather together to perform the finale, Beacons.
Performed by members of the Vita String Quartet and the Bute Wind Quintet, Beacons was commissioned in 2021 by the Arts Council of Wales Covid-19 Cultural Recovery Fund. Songbird was a BBC Radio 3 Breakfast commission for their "Postcards from Composers" series during the COVID-19 lockdown.