Opus 15 In the Countryside

This piece (21min 37sec) for orchestra and choir was inspired by fond memories of enjoyable days spent in the countryside with friends and family over many years. It is intended for a family audience, with children in mind. The lyrics sung by the solo bass between bars 281 to 311 offer a little of my own feelings for �Mother Earth� as it continues its journey in the Universe. They sit at the centre of the composition. You are unlikely to get a true appreciation of the piece unless you read/sing the lyrics as the score plays, (while scrolling across the screen). They are intimately linked with the orchestration. As always with my compositions on the Sibelius site, the reproduction intended needs a sound system probably better than mine. Perhaps when I migrate to Sibelius 4 and Garritan sounds, the quality will be enhanced. The mp3 goes some way to re-producing the intended sound, although synthetic choir sounds are a poor substitute for a real choir. There are occasional drop-outs of the choir sounds which need my attention. Using Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth gives unacceptable playback.