Somewhere Beyond Eden Rock

"Somewhere Beyond Eden Rock" is a piece I wrote for a flute and cello duet, with the guidance of Louise Drewett, whilst taking part in the Academy's Mentor Club. The piece is inspired by the poem "Eden Rock", written by Charles Causley in 1988. The poem explores themes of familial love and the pain and nostalgia that come with it, in the vague yet ethereal fictional setting of "Eden Rock". Fascinated, I explored modal tonalities to reflect the ambiguity and confusing nature of familial love and faith. Its form is inspired by the works of Debussy – namely Bilitis, as featured in his 12 Chansons – as I found the way he used the piece to introduce a poem that is narrated between each section incredibly innovative. It was the first time that I had experimented using impressionist devices such as planing, as well as more modern techniques such as sul ponticello and harmonics, and they aided me in creating a melancholic piece that explores the themes of Causley's poem in addition to my perspective on the human condition – a confusing existence which seems to heavily reward faithful devotion to unknowns. Eden Rock - Charles Causley They are waiting for me somewhere beyond Eden Rock: My father, twenty-five, in the same suit Of Genuine Irish Tweed, his terrier Jack Still two years old and trembling at his feet. My mother, twenty-three, in a sprigged dress Drawn at the waist, ribbon in her straw hat, Has spread the stiff white cloth over the grass. Her hair, the colour of wheat, takes on the light. She pours tea from a Thermos, the milk straight From an old H.P. Sauce bottle, a screw Of paper for a cork; slowly sets out The same three plates, the tin cups painted blue. The sky whitens as if lit by three suns. My mother shades her eyes and looks my way Over the drifted stream. My father spins A stone along the water. Leisurely, They beckon to me from the other bank. I hear them call, 'See where the stream-path is! Crossing is not as hard as you might think.' I had not thought that it would be like this. Recorded at the Royal Academy of Music in February 2025 and premiered in April of the same year. Composer: Firdaus Aleshe Cello: Alex Lavine, Gonçalo Pires Flute: Josie Wakefield