In a Wide Place is a passacaglia for string orchestra.

The inspiration for In a Wide Place is two-fold. Firstly, my inspiration comes from Psalm 31 from which the title is taken. I was intrigued by how the phrase from verse 8, ‘in a wide place’ may have different interpretations. It may be interpreted as being away from others, separated and isolated in a physical space. Furthermore, the phrase may also be interpreted as having differences in ideas and viewpoints which may also result in separation and isolation.

Secondly, my inspiration comes from the Spanish origin of passacaglia as derived from the Spanish verb ‘pasar’ and ‘calle’, the Spanish for street. This also links to ‘El Camino’, ‘The Way of the Cross’.  An aspect of the crucifixion can also be seen reflected in Psalm 31, verse 5, ‘Into my hands, I commit my spirit’.  

The ‘passacaglia’ theme is a descending octatonic scale alternatively presenting two transpositions. Beginning on D the first transposition follows a ‘tone-semitone-tone’ pattern while the second follows the ‘semitone-tone-semitone’ pattern.

Exploring themes of isolation and difference, a freely developing and changing counter-melody is woven around the fixed passacaglia just as ivy grows over and around bricks. The piece has a pyramidic structure with the fixed passacaglia beginning in the double bass, moving through each section in turn before returning to the double bass at the end.

The title is intentionally ambiguous. It may refer to a large expansive area as opposed to being in a small confined space. It may refer to being alone in a large empty space but not just physically but also in terms of isolation of thoughts, ideas and viewpoints.

In a Wide Place was premiered on 25 November 2023 by the Musicians of All Saints, in St.Michael's Church, Lewes.