Paralysed as the Tide Comes In by Paul Burnell. Composed 2007 with minor revisions to the score in 2023. For solo instrument and recorded backing (optional: offstage soloist, ensemble). Duration 8:30

The recorded backing track is available on the 2024 album 'Woodland So Brightly’.

The playback of the recorded backing begins at 0'00" with coordinated stopwatches for soloist, offstage soloist and conductor. Stopwatch timings are given in boxed text. Recorded backing cues are shown in brackets above the soloist part.

The soloist does not need to play strictly in tempo, and should use the stopwatch timings as a guide.  Between C and D, under the instruction 'distort the written rhythms' the soloist may play only approximately the rhythms that are written ad lib. as an additional way of achieving the marked expression: 'fighting, struggling’.

The harmonics in the solo part are particularly suited for oboe.  Other instruments may play any of the harmonics where possible.

If performed with an ensemble, the conductor cues all circled numbered events and gives double down beats at each rehearsal letter.  The stopwatch timing are not given in the ensemble part.

The ensemble music includes material which is repeated - indicated by the repeat lines followed by an arrow.  The material within the repeat bar continues until the cue indicated by the text above.

The optional ensemble may comprise any or all of the indicated instruments - all shown on the bracketed two-line system: Flutes Clarinets Other wind instruments, unspecified, low and high. Brass instruments, unspecified, low and high. Percussion - Low drums, Suspended Cymbals Piano, Vibraphone, Glockenspiel, hand bells Violins, Violas, Cellos

The optional offstage soloist starts at 6'34" echoing the soloist on stage soloist, then gradually increasing the echo interval.