Selected Works of William Lovelady

The Sounds of Rain was inspired by Irish poet Seamus Heaney's poem of the same name. Also taking poetry as their stimulus are Curlew and The White Stone—two works by Sacha Abercorn, which I set to music. 

This Morning in Omagh the Sun Rose Again was commissioned for the first anniversary of the Omagh bombing tragedy. It was performed by Amanda to both communities in Northern Ireland. A recording of the piece was given to the families and relatives of those who suffered. The title of the piece is taken from a newspaper headline that was published the morning after the tragedy. 

The Three Poets: Wilfred Owen, August Stramm and Charles Péguy. I chose three different nationalities; English, German and French. All three of these men died in the trenches during the First World War at a very young age. The music is meant as a poignant reminder of the futility of such a war.

The Seven Incantations are a tribute to some of the musicians and friends I have met along the way. Nº1 is dedicated to Australian guitarist Slava Grigoryan, Nº6 to African trumpeter Hugh Masekela and Nº7 to Irish accordionist Jackie Daly.

La Nartuby is a river that runs through Provence in the South of France. Nartuby River is a musical journey from Draguignan to Le Muy where—after a few glasses of red wine—I fell asleep on the shady river bank and woke up in a kind of twilight zone, which can be heard during the nocturne towards the end of the duo.

—William Lovelady (March 2012)