Joe Stollery

This is a short piece for piano (left-hand only). The title alludes to the natural instincts of Atlantic salmon who tend to swim upriver to their breeding grounds, and this connects with my present thoughts about the future, having recently completed my university studies and leaving the world of education. The piece is dramatic, stormy and angst-ridden, but also has moments of calm and confidence. Throughout the piece, I referenced motifs from previous works of mine, including Stone Fragments (the ‘Salmon’ movement, incidentally), Lochnagar, and Grampian Picture.

This piece was commissioned by Drake Music Scotland for the project Making Waves, and it was premiered by Nicholas McCarthy at St Cecilia’s Hall, Edinburgh. Like my previous Drake Music projects including The Skene Obsession and Seely Circles, I created this piece to explore a facet of my autism on musical terms. In this case it was my fear of change and trepidation around new things, as well as the subsequent gradual acceptance of it, and the determination to embrace it and push through to the other side. To reflect this hope in music, I made absolutely sure that, after all the turbulence and stress depicted within, the piece ends on a bold, optimistic note.

Nicholas McCarthy Facebook post

The Herald article - 1 June 2024

PERFORMANCES:

Première: 6 June 2024 - St Cecilia’s Hall, Edinburgh - Nicholas McCarthy (piano - left hand alone)