Mallon, Áine: Bones and Glass. SATB
From: £3.75
SATB unaccompanied (with divisions)
Written for the National Youth Choir, Bones and Glass is a journey of self-discovery and development in its poetical and musical elements. The piece begins in a desolate aural landscape of chant-like intonations in the upper voices with dark harmonies in the deep bass, as the speaker readies themselves for a challenging exploration of their inner world. Their growing shadow symbolises the weight of this endeavour and, as the narrative progresses, a broken mirror is transformed into a powerful tool of revelation.
Reflecting the mirror’s light which gradually becomes a beacon of hope and renewal, the music in turn moves faster, refracted into spiky, fractured textures. Once a mere spark, that light is now nurtured into something vibrant, used to craft intricate glass structures that symbolise beauty and resilience – erected on the foundation of past experiences. In conclusion, the speaker embraces the duality of their nature, its shadow and light, as the music broadens to rich, effulgent major chords, then contracts to a sparse, linear utterance again as they prepare for future challenges. Now a testament, the broken mirror hangs on the wall.
Even in our bleakest moments we have the capacity to create our own light. This piece reflects the enduring human spirit, which finds ways to foster hope and fortitude, no matter how difficult our circumstances.
Bones and Glass is featured on the 2025 NMC Recordings release Young Composers 6, performed by the National Youth Choir, conductor Nicholas Chalmers.
This title is available either as a printed copy by post or as a digital download with a 30-copy print licence. Please select:
30-COPY LICENCE Sold under the terms of a personal use licence, the purchase of this file includes a licence to print up to 30 copies for use by your choir. If you need more than 30 copies, simply purchase multiple copies of the file for each additional 30 copies required. For example, 30 copies cost £20.00, 60 copies cost £40.00 etc.
Note: The file (stamped with your name and email address) will be available for immediate download and the licence will be sent via email.