Programme Notes

"Rincí" (pronounced "Rink-hy"), as I understand it, is the Irish Gaelic word for "Dances".

I set out with the intention of creating a loosely connected rhapsody of dance-like episodes. This music is a good example of all that folk-like in my style of writing, which includes a mixture of tonal modal harmony and certain turns of phrase in the melodic content of the piece.

The main theme, based loosely off from a plainchant I heard long ago, comes back in many different guises throughout the piece, alongside others that appear fleetingly. That main theme, first heard (in its complete form) in the strings, binds the piece together from start to finish.

Rincí has eight sections:

1. A Slow introduction, featuring the main theme, then solos over a timpani roll

2. A very much faster dance, containing a reference to the main theme (but in B Major)

3. A rather expansive section which could be interpreted as a rather passionate partner-dance

4. A quirky iteration of the main theme again

5. A very much darker turn of the main theme, centred around Bb minor

6. The main theme comes back, but very fast and urgent in its character. This also contains a jig-like moment in the woodwinds over a derivative of the main theme

7. The main tune comes back, but not before some rather lush string chords.

8. The final section, to be taken "at a blistering speed". This brings together the main themes of the first section, and has a brief reference to the Shaker tune "Lord of the Dance".

I wrote this in dedication to the East Sussex Youth Orchestra, the flagship of the East Sussex Music Service in Southern England - an ensemble I've had the honour to perform with for many years, under the very capable direction of Colin Metters.