This is my first composition for piano and trumpet, and was my fourth work to be performed at Wells Cathedral School.

I started writing To the Good Times after my AS exams last June and have been changing and improving it for the past 5 months. The piece opens with a tricky quasi-cadenza, followed by the vivacious main theme built upon a motif in D minor. This then leads into two slow lyrical passages, the first is in D minor and uses a cup mute, whilst the second is in B minor and makes used of the full range of the piano. The main theme then returns and is extended to include some semiquaver passages, and makes use of a fibre mute. Following this is a reflective rubato section, with held tremolo chords in the piano and a haunting melody in the trumpet; this develops to a dramatic climax using fanfare-like embellishments. A sustained chord on the piano leads into the finale - a reprise of the main melody featuring octave leaps, triplets, timbral trills and an accelerando leading to a spectacular finish. This piece is exciting to play, especially the tremolo and finale sections. I have enjoyed working on this piece as both a composer and performer, as it has allowed me to interpret music from both these positions.