• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Biography
  • Works
    • Upcoming performances
    • Past performances
  • Recordings
  • Listen
  • Gallery
  • News & Views
    • Articles
  • Contact

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

Primary Sidebar

Search Works & Recordings

Filter Works

Work categories: START AGAIN

23 October, 2025 - Fuga
Lapland Chamber Orchestra, John Storgårds (Conductor)
Concert Hall, Korundi House of Culture, Rovaniemi, Finland

24 October, 2025 - Fuga
Lapland Chamber Orchestra, John Storgårds (Conductor)
Kemi Church, Kemi, Finland

30 October, 2025 - Pluto the Renewer
Odense Symfoniorkester, Alpesh Chauhan (Conductor)
Carl Nielsen Salen, Odense Concert Hall, Denmark

31 October, 2025 - Pluto the Renewer
Odense Symfoniorkester, Alpesh Chauhan (Conductor)
Carl Nielsen Salen, Odense Concert Hall, Denmark

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

View all performances

Useful Links

Faber Music
NMC Recordings
The Holst Foundation

© 2025 Colin Matthews · Website by Bookswarm

Menu
  • Home
  • Biography
  • Works
    • Upcoming performances
    • Past performances
  • Recordings
  • Listen
  • Gallery
  • News & Views
    • Articles
  • Contact