WATERCRAFT

PROJECT SHOWCASE

Winner of the National Britten Sinfonia Opus Prize Awarded by Sir James MacMillan

A note on writing the music

Watercraft is winner of the Britten Sinfonia Opus Prize attended and awarded by Sir James MacMillan. The result is a two movement piece based upon water poems Allan Cunningham’s “A Wet Sheet and a Flowing sea”, and Steve Fairbairn’s “The Oarsman’s song”

A Wet Sheet and a flowing sea: I was so moved by the imagery of this poem, for its immediate simplicity and clarity of a boat out at sea. It first contoured images of sale, rope, wood and blue bright water, calm as the vestal travels it’s course. The music became refection of this space, the light especially moving its sound.

The Oarsman’s song: I wanted the music to capture the motion and speed of the water; The overlapping waves, the larger waves within waves, and the smooth motion of the oar on the waters surface too. The piano became this texture that had a synergy to it just the way the water does, and the stings helped with feel of working hard to move fast and nimbly.

This was an incredibly special piece to write because of the stillness that it evoked in me in the first movement, and the adrenaline in the second. It was also a really interesting mix of folk and classical music. Although the extracts above are limited to 15 seconds each, I hope they can give a little taste of what the piece is like.

General Info

Following a workshop at Saffron Hall with Sir James MacMillan and five shortlisted composers, Britten Sinfonia is pleased to announce that Robert Singer was selected as the winner of OPUS2018. Robert’s piece received its world premiere tour in March 2019 at Wigmore Hall, London; West Road Concert Hall, Cambridge; and St Andrew’s Hall, Norwich