The late poet Seamus Heaney was a close friend for twenty-five years and a great inspiration. When I was commissioned in 2012 to write a piece to launch Derry being a Capital of Culture, Heaney’s immortal words – “hope and history rhyme” – resounded so warmly to me and seemed to encapsulate the mood of the changing scene in the north.
It was such a great honour to have had his blessing to compose to his words, and Barry Douglas to perform the music.
