This brand-new piece for wind quintet came about through the coronavirus lockdown and my observations of our UK politicians and how they behaved (One rule for them…)

In terms of the music, each line is related to other lines through patterns of 5, 7 or 9 beats (or half beats). Each repetition of the pattern starts with all the instruments in that particular group playing on the first beat. As the music progresses and develops, motifs appear out of the combinations of these beats with each other. Gradually, these patterns and motifs develop melodies which then form the backbone of the piece.

The first section (I hesitate to use the term movement) labelled "Plotting" develops a character of wiliness. It represents, in its twisting strands, the plotting of politicians to aggrandise themselves. The bottom 3 parts form an 'undercurrent' to the music as the 5,7 and 9 beat counts overlap and process. The flute and oboe, meanwhile, generate the first melodic strand - which becomes important in the later movements. The opening quaver patterns are passed around the whole ensemble, keeping the rhythmic pulse going. It slips between the anchoring notes of the lower 3 parts, as well as being essential to the development of the flute and oboe melodic material and stopping the bassoon part being too boring!

The long winding, rising and falling line on the oboe and flute is deliberately ambiguous in its tonality, leading one to feel it strives upwards, but then loses its way. The frequent dissonances as this line crosses itself in the other parts represents the effect of all the plotting on ordinary people. Before letter B, there are a couple of brief hints of Dies Irae, but I didn’t want that idea to dominate too much. After B and into C, we get the day-to-day chitchat in Westminster, with interjections from many voices proclaiming their message, trying to persuade their colleagues and just leading to confusion and tonal extremism. From letter C to the end of the section is an extended accel/stretto as the discussion gets more heated.

Section 2 is titled "Scheming". The tempo is faster than the previous section, but the pace is slower. More motives have formed and developed organically out of the rhythm and pitch patterns. The 5/7/9 cross rhythms are now at double speed, giving a fiercer drive to the music. The bassoon and horn, for now, adhere to the longer pulse of the first section, providing something of a harmonic underpinning. At bar 101, the long but now slightly broken narrative line of the first movement returns in modified form. This now provides a backdrop for the rhythmic bartering and ‘back and forth’ of the political day. The section reaches a climax as the political bickering becomes rowdier.

Section 3 begins in a relatively happy mood. The bassoon has a jolly capering little motif, later taken up by other members of the ensemble. There are hints of English folk tune-ness in the resulting conversation, perhaps emphasised by the overlays of this pleasant melody from letter D.

Letter E is a ‘turning point’ as all the rhythmic pulses finally align again. This is the first time all five parts have played on the same beat since the opening. At Letter G, a pulsing drone is added to the mix, using the quaver version of the pulse. Perhaps representing the soring of politicians. There is a parallel drone added at letter H, these drones use the 5 (bassoon) and 7 (horn) beat pulses. The result is a solid underpinning of the rhythmic and melodic ideas in the upper 3 parts.

After letter I comes a reprise of the spritely bassoon motif with dissonant harmonies as the discussion becomes more heated. The little semiquaver figures have the rhythm “Mr. Speaker” as members of the house shout for attention. In the repeat bars, we hear the Speaker shout “Order!”

Letter J provides an altered reprise of the beginning, with parts swapped round to give the oboe a shot at the tune. We are in a new tonal centre (perhaps there’s been an election?) After a reprise of the lyrical melody at letter K, we move into the end phase, with the repeated patterns regaining dominance. The work ends with a three quaver ‘clapping of the hands’.