Galanthus (2011)

I composed Galanthus (snowdrop) for a project initiated in Japan, called Hibari, to raise money for victims of the Tsunami in March 2011. A group of young composers in Japan, including Daryl Jamieson, a former student of mine, got together to have pieces composed and recorded, which would then be available for people to purchase. I composed Galanthus for solo violin, and it was recorded by Mise Shungo for the Hibari project. Galanthus means ‘snowdrop’. The snowdrop is the first flower to appear in my garden, in mid-March, often while there is still snow on the ground, a fragile symbol of hope and strength.