Sampler
Excerpts from selected compositions in a range of moods and genres (this is what you hear if you tap or click the play button on the home page). (List of compositions on sampler.)
Life’s Golden Tree
‘My dear friend, all theory is grey – life’s golden tree alone is green’, said Goethe. A reflection of and on life in all its forms and varieties. More info in this blog.
Kin: Double Concerto for Cor Anglais, Bassoon and Orchestra
Celebrating the new year with the release of my new work for two (more or less) related soloists and orchestra. For more information and to hear more of the music, see this blog.
The Coffee Ground
Brief snippets from the 4 versions of this piece (4 bassoons, 4 clarinets, 4,8,12… cellos, cello ensemble) (More Info)
Climates of the Mind
This brief video is an introduction to the album Climates of the Mind. (More Info)
The Lay of the Last Survivor
A setting of the great lament from Beowulf, in the same style as Fame, Gold & Shadow (see below). (Lyrics) (More Info)
Parables of Sunlight
Cloud shadows and bright sunlight drift across rolling green fields… (More Info)
Vivace (‘Lively’) from Clarinet Concerto
The world music influences in my music are obvious here. (More Info) (Re the rhythms, see this blog.)
Nostalgia
‘… a longing for experiences, things, or acquaintanceships belonging to the past’ (More Info)
Concerto for Harpsichord or Piano (played on piano)
Part of the mostly cheerful first movement, played on piano. (More Info) (Re the rhythms, see this blog.)
Concerto for Harpsichord or Piano (played on harpsichord)
The same excerpt from the first movement, played on harpsichord. (More Info) (Re the rhythms, see this blog.)
Musick, the Mosaique of the Air
A grand but quirky choral and orchestral piece. (Lyrics) (More Info)
Enthusiasm
‘Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm’ – attrib. Winston Churchill. (More Info) (Re the rhythms, see this blog.)
Prelude from Fame, Gold and Shadow
Music for Beowulf. The Prelude sets the scene. (More Info)
O Breath, O Fire
Words from medieval Europe, music with a traditional Chinese flavour… (Lyrics) (More Info)
Sylvan for orchestra (excerpt)
‘Sylvan: [n.] … a deity or spirit of the woods’ (OED). (There are also versions of Sylvan for 2 solo instruments – see below.) (More Info)
Reflecting
In a reflective frame of mind ideas arise, the imagination has freer rein, there is space for insights and inspirations… (More Info)
The River (opening section)
Music for choir and orchestra that begins in sombre mood and ends with exuberant nature imagery (this is the sombre part). (Lyrics) (More Info)Winter Journey
A journey of the mind (the version for wind quintet; also a piano piece). (More Info)
The Lost Man
Song with words by Judith Wright: ‘To reach the pool you must go through the rain-forest – through the bewildering midsummer of darkness…’ (Lyrics) (More Info)
Then I Became (excerpt)
‘Then I became as a bird…’ (version for solo soprano, from 4′; there are also choral and instrumental versions). (Lyrics) (More Info)
Half-Heard (excerpts)
Song on a haunting poem about Tasmania by Christopher Koch. (Lyrics) (More Info)
In diebus illis from Revelations
Opening section of a large-scale work for choir and orchestra. (Lyrics) (More Info)
Et requiem non habebant from Revelations
‘… and they rest not, day or night’. More from the same choral/orchestral work. (Lyrics) (More Info)
Sylvan for 2 flutes (excerpt)
‘Sylvan: [n.] … a deity or spirit of the woods’ (OED). (There are also versions of Sylvan for 2 oboes, clarinets, recorders, violins, violas or cellos, and a longer version for full orchestra). (More Info)
The Flower Shall Flourish
Variations on an English folk song (version for 2 instruments; there is also a quintet version). (More Info)
Melancholy Waltz
A simple little old-fashioned piano piece. (More Info)
A Taoist Hymn
Do Taoists sing hymns? I don’t know, but if they did… (Lyrics) (More Info)
Daphne Restored (excerpts)
Song with clarinet and viola on an evocative poem by Gwen Harwood. (Lyrics) (More Info)
Miserere for choir (conclusion)
Note:
These recordings have been made with realistic sampled and synthesized sounds. Most of this music has not yet been performed by actual musicians. Singers and musicians interested in becoming the first real performers are invited to CONTACT me. Neil Buckland
30 second sound samples of all my compositions and arrangements can be heard on the Compositions pages: from the Compositions menu (above), select a genre (Orchestral Music, Choral Music, etc.) and tap or click the play buttons next to the composition titles.
Many of my songs and pieces appear on YouTube, with attractive and/or interesting videos and imagery. They can all be found on my YouTube channel, or go directly to:
- Gratitude
- Lucid Dreaming
- Enthusiasm (‘untouched’)
- I have felt a presence (with lyrics as subtitles)
- Nostalgia
- The Lay of the Last Survivor (live recording)
- Scherzando from Concerto for Harpsichord or Piano
- Finale from Concerto for Harpsichord or Piano (‘dinnertime’)
- Echoes in the Memory
- Reflecting
- Gaia (part 1)
- Prelude from Fame, Gold & Shadow (1st sketches)
- sketches for a string quartet inspired by birdsong (‘superhuman music’)
My music is also available for streaming or download from:
- Apple Music/iTunes
- Amazon
- Google Play Music
- Spotify
- Deezer
- QQ Music
- Kuwo
- Wangyiyun
- Kugou (China only)
and on the following professionally manufactured CD albums:
- O Breath, O Fire : a selection of my music in different genres
- Fame, Gold & Shadow : Music for Beowulf and other chamber and solo music
- Fuzzy Logic, Lucid Dreaming, Clarinet Concerto, Bassoon Concerto : 3 concertos for wind instruments
- Concerto for Harpsichord or Piano and Orchestra : the complete concerto on harpsichord plus lengthy excerpts on piano
- Music, the Mosaic of the Air : songs and choral music
(details of all CDs, with tracklists and timings)
To order CDs, CONTACT me.
Neil Buckland