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Colin Matthews

Composer

It is fascinating how Matthews can use, almost entirely, dark and subtly shifting colours …

— David Denton, Tempo

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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11 March, 2026 - Postludes / Little Continuum
New England Conservatory New Music Ensemble, Stefan Asbury (Conductor)
Jordan Hall, New England Conservatory of Music, Boston, USA

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

26 July, 2026 - Fantazia 13
The Happenstancers
Carlton Dominion-Chalmers Centre, Ottawa, Ottawa Chamberfest

7 March, 2027 - Paraphrases
Leila Josefowicz (violin), John Novacek (piano)
Wigmore Hall, London

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Useful Links

Faber Music
NMC Recordings
The Holst Foundation

© 2026 Colin Matthews · Website by Bookswarm

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