The River Severn Suite

Foreword

The River Severn Suite is a collection of six pieces for solo flute, all composed in 2012 for a Shrewsbury-based amateur flautist called Bibiche.

1. Bouquet from Beaumaris was written in Beaumaris, (a castle town in Wales) as a present for Bibiche. 

2. Breathless is a description of how I expected her to appear at the end of playing the movement

3. Nurses Kisses Kiss it Better was inspired by the fact that Bibiche worked in intensive-care and had some sad stories to tell. 

4. The Girl in Granada was a Spanish girl. She appeared introspective, in a sketch drawn by Bibiche when she was on holiday there; Bibiche is a talented artist.

5. The Last Day in August happened to be the last day we were together. It’s a sort of keening song.

6. The River (Severn) is a beautiful tree-lined stretch of water, flowing through Shrewsbury. The trees are replete with birds and their birdsong; perhaps the happiness of a morning’s listening is reflected in this finale.