An Atlas of Joy
For Orchestra
Dedicated to Lilian Birch

Programme Note
My main inspiration for this work came from the program this piece was curated in - Richard Strauss’s Four Last Songs and Igor Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring.
When I found out that my piece would be programmed alongside these amazing works, I was not only super excited to hear my piece pitted against these two works, but I was immediately taken with the idea of life. The Rite is of course about birth and the regeneration of the earth, Strauss’s work is about looking back at a great career and life and anticipating death, so I thought it would be interesting to explore the idea of how good the middle bit is – life and the joys it entails. The work follows a sequence of moments that explore the idea of joy and what joy means. Sometimes it is loud and boisterous, sometimes more intimate, and personal.

Ultimately, I like this idea of this 10 minute journey encapsulating a survey of joy in its many iterations.

The work is scored for a large orchestra and is structured as an Overture, in the vein of Shostakovich or Dvorak. I have attempted to give every section of the orchestra a moment to shine, with a particular focus on the soloistic capabilities of the wind section.

I aim for my music to be colourful, intriguing, and perhaps a little surprising.

Piccolo
2 Flutes (II = piccolo)
2 Oboes
1 Cor Anglais
3 Clarinets in A (III = bass clarinet in B flat)
2 Bassoons
Contrabassoon

4 Horns in F
3 Trumpets in B flat
2 Trombones
Bass Trombone
Tuba

Timpani
Percussion (2-4 players)
Part I - Bell Tree, Suspended Cymbal, Claves, Bass Drum, Crotales, Melodica (soprano)
Part II - Mark Tree, Large Triangle, Tambourine, Tam-Tam, Vibraphone

Strings

Duration: 10 minutes.

An Atlas of Joy was commissioned by the Stonnington Symphony.

The world premiere was given by the Stonnington Symphony conducted by Roy Theaker on 18 November 2023.