Australian Music Centre | Breaking sound barriers

Work Overview

This work is a 'mini-symphony' based on the poet's recollection of the medieval Sussex castle town whose name so captivated him as a small boy. The opening is in a slow but fluid, free-ranging tempo, evoking his aural impressions of 'Arundel' which are so beautifully articulted in verse. This is followed by a 'scherzo' conveying his first visit to Arundel by automobile and his impressions of its grandeur. The third episode is tragic in nature,as he recalls the destruction wrought on the town in wartime, as a result of which the very name loses its magic. The opening music returrns in the finale, wherein that magic of 'Arundel' is recaptured in the ears of his youngest son Peter, who has promoted my Campion settings in the USA where he now lives.

Work Details

Year: 2014

Instrumentation: 2 mezzo-soprano and/or tenor voices (2nd may be prerecorded), piano.

Duration: 5 min.

Difficulty: Advanced — The difficulty lies in the duration of the work and the frequent changes in tempo and mood.

Dedication note: This is a setting of a poem by my uncle Emil Campion (1914-95) on the centenary of his birth. It is dedicated to him and to his living relatives.

The composer notes the following styles, genres, influences, etc associated with this work:
Closest in style, spirit and genre to 'Arundel' are my songs based on the work of the Australian poet John Shaw Neilson (1872-1942) including Native Companions and Nimitybelle who shares with Campion a celebration of Nature (cf. 'Toadstools' and 'Pigeons') and an inner vitality expressed traditional rhyme and scansion schemes.I have tried to avoid the cliches of the English pastoral style, although some may creep through! Of greater significance are the undertones of jazz and blues, which reflect my lifelong dedication to these genres, as a player, composer and arranger.

The composer notes:
The second voice intones only the single word 'Arundel' throughout. The song may also be adaptable for choir (with or without soloists) and small instrumental ensemble (up to 8-10 players.)