Slate, Sea and Sky features 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.