Fanfares and Nocturnes (1989)

Duration: c.15 minutes

Commissioned by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra

Written in association with an education project in Lanarkshire schools, the brief was to combine members of the orchestra with the Lanarkshire Youth Orchestra. The result is a composition for brass quintet, timpani, percussion and strings. The music alternates driving fanfares with more mysterious textures much influenced by McQueen's simultaneous work on the composition of the opera Fortunato.
The sequence of movements follows the pattern: Fanfare I, Nocturne I, Fanfare II, Nocturne II, Fanfare III. The première took place in Airdrie in a showcase concert, including new compositions by six local secondary and special schools students. BBC Radio Three broadcast a programme about the process called Monklands: The Musical in December 1989.

MP3 audio extract (1'40"):
Fanfare 2

Other Orchestral Music:
Desiderata
Judith's Doubt and Resolve
Phaedrus