In the absence of heather

Flute, Clarinet, Viola and Cello

Programme Note

In the absence of heather rotates some invented and some found musical objects through an everchanging harmonic cloud to reveal the intimacies and intricacies held within each. Half-remembered melodies and harmonies coalesce-folding and collapsing into each other, pining to remember their own intent and purpose whilst sympathising with the forgotten wishes and paths of others.

During the composing of the piece, I was thinking a lot about those emotionally unbearable harmonic suspensions in early music, and how it feels to experience that yearning for resolutions in all aspects of life. At the time of writing this note, resolution and the outside world seem tangibly close but still so far away, so the longing fora resolve continues.

In the absence of heather was commissioned by Ret Frem Ensemble during the COVID-19 and received an online premiere on 20th July 2020, filmed in isolation.

Liam Mattison (London, July 2020)