Reverie
for solo oboe

Description

Reverie (2021) – for solo oboe
Written for Elen Morgan-Williams
Completed 5 May 2021
First performance 3 June 2021, Guildhall School of Music & Drama (London)
Dedicated to my little chuckling, with love
Cover art by Toby Way
Duration ca. 8′

Programme Note

Reverie took its motivation from the seventh stanza of The Teak Forest, by Violet Nicolson (pseud. Laurence Hope). It reads:

Whilst every gust of the Jungle night
Was fanning the flame you have set alight.
For these things have power to stir the blood
And compel us all to their own chance mood.
And to love or not we are no more free
Than a ripple to rise and leave the sea. 

The poem features in Nicolson’s inaugural volume titled The Garden of Kama And other Love Lyrics from India. The material for these poems is not derived from any identifiable Indian source but rather, is reminiscent of Sufi poetry by way of its spiritual undertone and rhythmic flow. These are poems that summon powerful imagery while communicating an overriding impression of peace, love and kindliness.

The piece looks to reflect Nicholson’s words, which were chosen with the dedicatee – Bethan’s sister, Elen – in mind. The creative process was very much a collaborative one, with both parties contributing to the circulation of ideas: first through discovery; then development; and finally, detail. Needless to say this was a particularly special project, with Reverie ultimately being the product of a series of exchanges between two sisters.