for brass dectet
duration ca 2'
Béal (2018) takes it title from the Irish word for ‘mouth’ and also from the Irish name for Belfast, Béal Feirste. This translates as ‘mouth of the ford’ and refers also to the River Farset that was once a tributary of Belfast’s principal river, the Lagan. Also, the mouth is of course pivotal to brass players and the title of the work is a small homophonic clin d’œil to a particular part of their instruments...
In summary, this short piece warmly welcomes the delegates of the 2019 ABO Conference to Belfast with an imaginary musical arrival via Béal Feirste.
Commissioned by the Ulster Orchestra for the opening of the 2019 Conference of the Association of British Orchestras.
Past performances:
15.02.2019 - Brass players of the Ulster Orchestra, Coláiste Feirste, Falls Rd, Belfast, UK
23.01.2019 - Brass players of the Ulster Orchestra, cond. Rafael Payare, ABO Conference 2019, ICC Belfast, Belfast, UK
