Australian Music Centre | Breaking sound barriers

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Work Overview

The Lark Ascending by Vaughan Williams holds iconic status for all violinists as one of the sublime pinnacles of the repertoire.

My mother performed it several times early in her career and many decades later it became the soundtrack of choice during her final days.

Ascension is dedicated to the memory of my mother, Heather Westlake (nee Sumner), who passed away in 2023 aged 95, and is an intimate dialogue between strings, distilled from a deeply personal expression of treasured recollections.

Reflecting on Heather's life and career during the composition process, I found myself revisiting the gentle warmth and skyward rising melodies of The Lark, perhaps secretly hoping that some it's glorious magic might leave a faint fingerprint on the score.

"Now when I'm gone" she would exclaim with a characteristic wry smile, " ….I don't want any fuss or musical dedications please!"

She probably guessed I wasn't listening.

Work Details

Year: 2024

Instrumentation: String chamber orchestra (44331 or 33221)

Duration: 12 min.

Difficulty: Advanced

Dedication note: Dedicated to the memory of Heather Westlake

Commission note: Commissioned by Australian Chamber Orchestra.. Commissioned by Australian Chamber Orchestra. Commissioned by the Australian Chamber Orchestra for the ACO’s 50th anniversary celebrations.

First performance: by Australian Chamber Orchestra — 3 Apr 25. Woollongong Town Hall, NSW