Slate, Sea and Skyfeatures a musical landscape and journey in three integrated and continuous sections, led by the cornet soloist alongside ensembles broadly representing the title's elements: ‘slate’ (flugelhorn, tenor horns and trombones); ‘sea’ (baritones, euphoniums and basses) and ‘sky’ (comets). These alternate throughout with the full band, travelling towards and through a storm, and emerging into bright skies at the end.
The title Slate, Sea and Sky is inspired by Norman Bissell's evocative poem of the same name, found in a book of poetry given to me by a close friend, to whom the work is dedicated.
