“These Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis settings were written in 1994 for Clare College (Cambridge) Chapel Choir under the excellent direction of Tim Brown. Tim’s mother was a near neighbour who sang in my Weymouth College Singers, and I gave her a lift each week for many years. When she persuaded Tim to bring his Choir to Dorchester, she requested that my Motet “Sing Bravely” should be in the programme. Tim conducted a wonderful performance of this, and he invited me to write these Evensong canticles. I chose to write in a rich, traditional style that would be easy to listen to. “Your Presence” was a setting of a love poem by Pablo Neruda, requested by my son-in-law for our daughter Sam. It was sung as they signed the register, in one of the grand rooms of Kingston Maurward House that we had booked for the day. The carol “I Sing of a Maiden” was written in 1979, one of five new carols. A barely noticeable (and somewhat quirky) feature is the rising bass line for the words “.... that falleth on the grass". Dew doesn’t fall, it rises from the ground, hence my word ‘painting'! The Piano Sonata was composed for Duncan Honeybourne. This work set out to be mono-thematic and in the romantic tradition of the late 19th & early 20th century, with perhaps a nod towards slightly more ‘modern’ harmony.” Rick Birley, 2024 Duncan Honeybourne enjoys a diverse profile as a pianist and in music education. Following his concerto debuts at Symphony Hall, Birmingham, and the National Concert Hall, Dublin, he made recital debuts in London, Paris and at international festivals in Belgium and Switzerland. Commended for his “gripping performances” (The Times), “glittering performances” (International Piano) and “great technical facility and unfailing imagination” (Musical Opinion), he has toured extensively as soloist and chamber musician, broadcasting frequently on BBC Radio 3 and worldwide. Many recordings reflect his long association with 20th and 21st century British piano music. For more information on Honeybourne’s recordings, recitals and more, see www.duncanhoneybourne.com/ Rick Birley (b. 1954) is a composer of contemporary ‘classical’ music which adheres to the traditional structures of composition, making his distinctive voice vibrantly fresh yet rooted in well-established forms that render it accessible rather than disturbingly challenging. Rick studied music at UCW Aberystwyth where he gained his BMus degree and developed his piano technique under the guidance of the formidable pianist Geoffrey Buckley. He later studied education at Cambridge University and was awarded a doctorate from Southampton University in 2008. After several years as Head of Department in Comprehensive Schools Rick set up and led the Music Department at Weymouth college very successfully for 18 years. Since 2002 Rick has taught piano, theory and composition privately at home, and had the time at last to concentrate on composing. Most of the 100+ compositions that make up Rick’s oeuvre date from 2002. The roots of Birley’s musical styles are embedded in many cultural references, including folk idioms, plainsong melody, the rhythm of poetry and the narrative of specific events in history. His language explores dissonance within tonal harmonic contexts and dynamic rhythm set into many varied but discernible beat structures (metric modulation). Using sometimes complex, very personal, harmonic language, Birley’s music reaches expressive depths that are profound yet recognisable. He makes frequent use of counterpoint, canons & sub melodies, using varied articulations and creating fascinating textural underlays. Of primary importance, always, is melody and its development. For more information about the compositions of Rick Birley please visit https://www.rickbirley.com