Parti Di-ffiniau (2023)
for orchestra
Parti Di-ffiniau (Party Without Borders) is a short orchestral fantasy that draws on the energy of Holst’s Jupiter, elaborating and transforming selected motifs through processes guided by numbers associated with the city of Birmingham. The piece opens with a near-quotation that immediately evokes the vigour of Jupiter: a running accompaniment constrained by a four-note figure passed between lower strings and brass.
As the work unfolds, a persistent, haunting call is introduced and gradually intensified. Following a more languid central section, earlier material is reconfigured through a tempo canon, driving towards a final, frenzied pastiche. The music is quick, energetic, bimodal, and polytemporal, embracing a sense of celebration and momentum.
Performance / Recording
Performed by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Clark Rundell.
Recorded for CBSO Sounds New.
Released by NMC Recordings on 3 November 2023.