Unwanted Wildness is inspired by the resilience and variety of all the weeds and wildflowers that grow along the Ashton Canal in East Manchester. I wanted to celebrate how they are perfectly adapted to take over urban spaces where there is nothing to stop them, and how the tiny green shoots of springtime grow into such diverse shapes and colours as spring turns to summer. During planning of this piece between April and June 2023, I observed over well over 60 varieties, and the piece is an attempt to create a musical impression of their growth through this period.
This piece was composed especially for Marc Danel and Gilles Millet, and premiered in the Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall on 16th November, 2023.
Recording Notes
Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall, University of Manchester on 16th November 2023, audio recording by Guillaume Dujat.