Lacrimae Rerum
These immortal words, meaning literally ‘the tears of things’ are borrowed from Virgil’s Aeneid, where he uses them to underpin the futility of war.
OSSA
The 48-minute choral symphony was a massive undertaking – in all sorts of ways. It marked the 400th anniversary of The Flight of the Earls, an epic event in Ireland’s history.
No tongue can tell
A commission to open the Belfast Festival at Queen’s in 2004, this concerto was written to commemorate my maternal grandparents and their love for each other.
Hell’s Pavement
Andy Kemp’s feature film deals with injustices in social care. In scoring this very emotive subject matter, I was keen to find colours that would be empathetic, understated and intimate.
Food For Ravens
The iconic writer and director, Trevor Griffiths, made this feature-length drama for BBC on the life of Nye Bevin, the labour health minister in late 1940s Britain.
Neither Either
Choreographer Liz Roche’s premise for the piece was this Seamus Heaney quote.
Four Quartets
Belfast dance company Maiden Voyage chose TS Eliot’s set of poems ‘Four Quartets’ as the inspiration for this work. Four choreographers and four dancers worked on the production. My first dance score….
A Particle of Dread
Field Day Theatre Company was founded by Stephen Rea and Brian Friel in 1980 and immediately established itself as the leading independent theatre voice in Ireland.
Women on the Verge of HRT (1996)
Marie Jones’ hit comedy ran very successfully in the West End during the mid-90s and is still favoured by many amateur drama societies.
Farewell
For Clare Dwyer Hogg’s play my aim was to encapsulate the play’s compliacted, resonant and sore moods in a few short bars. Barry Douglas did me the honour of recording the music.
