LITHOS
2001

Created as part of my MA in Musical Composition at Huddersfield University, Lithos is a large-scale work for wind ensemble, spanning approximately 13 minutes. A succession of rugged soundscapes unfolds in block-like sections, each replacing the last, until finally answered by an extended, winding counterpoint that culminates in a homophonic resolution—the chords striving to coalesce throughout the entire work finding their ultimate form. The sound world is broadly tonal, yet polytonal passages introduce an exciting, rough-edged harmony. The title, Lithos—meaning ‘stone’—reflects both my fascination with geology and my newfound awe of the natural Pennine environment. With its instrumentation of wind, brass, and percussion, the work echoes the region’s rugged beauty and deep-rooted performing traditions. Drawing from the Ordnance Survey map of the Pennine Trail, I selected a section running southwards from Hebden Bridge to Edale as a structural model, developing musical metaphors to express its diverse landscapes. Formally, the composition mirrors the contours of the trail—undulating yet gradually rising. Water and stone find loose representation through the interplay of lucid, flowing textures contrasted with spiky, disjunct rhythmic patterns. In the first half, instrumental forces divide into groups and sub-groups, often by family, creating a dialogue within a larger block-like structure. The interactions—frequently setting wind against brass—are clearly defined, with each section maintaining its own internal logic, all derived from the same core harmonic material. The second half revolves around a continuous presentation of this harmonic foundation. In stark contrast to the rhythmic choppiness of the opening, the music ascends slowly and expansively, weaving individual instrumental lines into a growing counterpoint. In the final bars, the ensemble converges in a climactic unison—homophonic brass and saxophones enriched by shimmering percussion colour.