Green for twelve strings (Full Score)

Commissioned by the Scottish Ensemble first performed on 15th December 2008 at Queen’s Cross Church, Aberdeen.

Programme note

'This short work is about conflict – expressed here by the clash of opposing musical forces. One ‘force’ an ‘arioso’ is based around the harmonic field of E and is  melodic, tonal, straightforward, and, at times, emotional. It is mainly led by the first  violin. The other ‘force’ led by the double bass, is strongly discordant [at first a  single note F latergradually growing to a giant cluster]. It is essentially chordal  [non-melodic], static, suffocating, inexorable and impersonal. Its only contrast is  getting louder or getting softer, getting denser, or less dense.

The interruption of the opening ‘arioso’ by a single note F on the double bass is at
first not very threatening and the reaction to it is one of surprise. Later as the threat
increases so the reaction becomes stronger; at first one of irritation, then anger. A
passionate outburst on the violins follows which falls on deaf ears. Then a solo
violin, solo viola and solo cello all appeal in turn: still no response. Finally only
fragments of the original ‘arioso’ are heard before dying away.

Whereas near the