Afterglow is inspired by and based on the snowscape painting of the same name by the Scottish artist Joseph Farquharson (1846–1935). The painting depicts a forest scene located in the artist’s Aberdeenshire estate at Finzean, near evening. The glow of the sunset stands out against the trees and the snow, and I aim to capture this colour contrast with the instrumentation of violin and bassoon – two instruments which similarly contrast in timbre. These two instruments also overlap in range just enough to explore this contrast, and so the first main section of the piece utilises a simple folklike line on the violin, which is echoed roughly in unison on the bassoon, giving an effect of sunlight shining on the snow. Further in, the piece moves into more florid territory, as the instruments become more independent of one another. Ornaments crop up throughout the piece, perhaps suggesting the rustling of trees. (or perhaps even the presence of two rabbits on the ground!) Towards the end, after a radiant climax, the violin line withdraws and provides a pizzicato backdrop for the bassoon, giving the impression of the sunlight dimming to a bluish twilight.

This piece was composed in response to a micro-commission for Aberdeen Art Galleries and Museums.

I would like to thank Lesley Anne Rose and Griffin Coe and Lorna McLaren for their help and advice in the early stages and during the process of this project.

PERFORMANCES:

Première: 24 October 2021 - The Anatomy Rooms, Aberdeen - Guera Crockett (violin), Lucy Webster (bassoon)

21 May 2023 - Aberdeen Art Gallery - Guera Crockett (violin), Lucy Webster (bassoon)

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