Serpents of Wisdom

The title of this piece comes from ‘Celtic Cross’ by Norman MacCaig, a poem that brings to life the symbols of an earlier time, carved in stone, entwined and plaited in abstract forms. The idea of a coiling serpent and the image of the coiled horn also came together in my mind. The opening phrase of the piece is responsible for much of the musical material for the whole piece, a strong and vibrant phrase that I wanted to capture something of the essence of these noble creatures on Celtic crosses. The idea of plaiting and entwining plays an important part in the unfolding of the piece. John Casken

Schott Music Ltd., London