Northumberland composer creates musical tribute to The Alnwick Garden
The new piece, Blossom, will take audiences on a musical journey through the attraction as part of its 25th anniversary
A new piece of music inspired by the sights, sounds and stories of The Alnwick Garden is set to receive its world premiere this month as part of the venue’s 25th anniversary celebrations.
Blossom, an original 15-minute composition by Thropton folk musician and producer Ian Stephenson, has been commissioned to mark the garden’s silver anniversary and will be performed by the Coquet Concert Band during a special outdoor concert on July 22.
Drawing inspiration from everything from flowing water to the famous Poison Garden, the work is built around four themes - Water, Busy Bees, Poison and Blossom - designed to reflect different aspects of the visitor experience.
Ian said: “It has been a pleasure to create this original composition for The Alnwick Garden’s silver anniversary.
“When working on the piece, I took inspiration from the elements that make the venue so enchanting for visitors. Coming to The Garden has always been captivating, and I wanted that sense of discovery to be reflected in the music.
“I hope listeners will experience each of the four themes, Water, Busy Bees, Poison and Blossom, as if they are moving through The Garden itself, perhaps remembering what it was like to visit for the very first time.”
The premiere forms part of a wider programme celebrating 25 years since the garden opened and transformed a neglected site into one of the region’s best-known visitor attractions.
The concert itself will feature a wider programme of film music, television themes, Northumbrian folk tunes and a Last Night of the Proms-style finale, with local musicians also performing throughout the evening.
Visitors are encouraged to bring picnic blankets and chairs for what organisers hope will be a suitably celebratory midsummer evening in the grounds of the garden.