The Bells of St. Clements (2018)

THE BELLS OF ST. CLEMENTS is a piece in three movements based on the English nursery rhyme “Oranges and Lemons (say the bells of St. Clements).” This rhyme plays an important role in George Orwell’s novel 1984. In the book, the rhyme symbolizes the idea that freedom in a totalitarian society may be just another form of oppression, where hope is a terrible illusion.

In this piece, the musical instruments attempt to break free from their mechanical form and move toward a more fluid, almost impressionistic sound world. In the first movement, this is heard in the melody; in the second, in the rhythm; and in the third and final movement, in the harmony. However, the pulsing ultimately remains and becomes increasingly dominant, eventually destroying all that is beautiful.