First Born – For solo violin and string orchestra
First Born was commissioned by New Bristol Sinfonia
First performance:
Victoria Rooms, Bristol, 16 September 2000
Violin: Krzysztof Smietana
Conductor: Jonathan James
New Bristol Sinfonia
Duration: 22 minutes
A programmatic work that came into being through a desire to harness my response to some of the stronger experiences through the period prior to, during, and after the birth of my first son. Much of the language is chromatic, with the work also drawing, in a retrospective way, on a continuation of the lyricism of English string music.
This work is available to purchase in a bound A3 edition. Click the button below to order a copy.

First Born (Excerpt 1)
First Born (Excerpt 2)
“I am aware of an inner driving force (exactly what it is, or if it can be defined) which carries you forward right to the last bar. This to me means much more than any formal organisation of material”
James Brown – Composer and Compsition Lecturer, University of Leeds
“I think your music is really fantastic, and really does strike a balance between the intellectual and the emotional.”
Pollyanna Gunning – A&R Manager, Sanctuary Classics