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Colin Matthews

Composer

The writing is energetic, skilful, imaginative, and organic, as Matthews’ music always is …

— Stephen Pettitt, The Times

10 Pig Songs (2015-6). Chorus & piano

A picture of a lop eared pig in its sty

I’ve been writing pieces since 2009 for the remarkable Magdalen Farm String Course for young string players aged 9-16, which takes place each Easter near Winsham in Dorset. In 2015 I began setting some of Wendy Cope’s  ‘Traditional Prize County Pig’ poems, and 2017 – the 10th anniversary of the course – saw the first performance of all 10. The songs are written for unison and two-part voices and piano.

While strolling around Magdalen Farm, I was delighted to discover a Cornish Lop-Eared Pig, who ‘doesn’t know the world is big/And beautiful. He doesn’t try/To wander. He’s an easy pig,/Content to stay within his sty.

View the score (published by Faber Music)

Categories: Children's pieces, Choral, Voice

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27 November, 2025 - Two Part Invention
Timothy Lines (Director and Conductor), New Perspectives, Matthew Bottaro (Flute), Anthony McKenna (Clarinet)
Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall, Royal College of Music, London

8 February, 2026 - Oboe Concerto (World Premiere)
London Symphony Orchestra, Olivier Stankiewicz (Oboe), Elim Chan (Conductor)
Barbican Hall, London

19 February, 2026 - Pluto the Renewer
The Hallé Orchestra, The Hallé Choir, Kahchun Wong (Conductor)
The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester

14 May, 2026 - Berceuse and Sarabande
Folkestone New Music
The Green Room at the Grand, Folkestone

20 September, 2026 - Paraphrases
Leila Josefowicz (violin), John Novacek (piano)
Wigmore Hall, London

View all performances

Useful Links

Faber Music
NMC Recordings
The Holst Foundation

© 2025 Colin Matthews · Website by Bookswarm

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