Cornish Coastal Walk

SKU: CF.YPS205

ISBN 9781491152256. UPC: 680160909759. Key: F major.

Cornish Coastal Walk is a beautiful new composition depicting the majestic cliffs and coastline of the Cornwall region in England. Composer Michael Miller provides young bands with an opportunity to stretch their musical muscles with this lush and tuneful piece in 3/4 time. Directors will find in this piece a strong vehicle to teach phrasing, beauty of tone, and musicianship to young bands.
In the far southwest of England reaching out towards the Celtic Sea is the county Cornwall. A peninsula, Cornwall is surrounded by some of the world’s most picturesque scenery including beaches, cliffs, and rolling hills. Separated from the rest of England by the river Tamar, the Cornish take great pride in their culture including the pasty (a stuffed pastry and preferred lunch of miners), Cornish cream tea (not to be confused with rival Devon cream tea where the cream goes under the jam), and well known national heritage sights such as Rough Tor (Cornwall’s highest point), and Tintagel Castle (rumored birth place of King Arthur).In the spring and summer of 2017, I had the pleasure to visit Cornwall, while my wife was a visiting scholar at the University of Exeter in the neighboring county of Devon. One July afternoon, while she was making field observations (she’s a Cultural Anthropologist), I decided to take a stroll along the cliffs as was recommended by a friend. I set out from Boscastle, a small inlet village where one can enjoy the most delicious black currant ice cream, and I trekked up and down the cliffs for three or four miles before finally arriving in Tintagel. I had planned to continue on to Trebarwith Strand, home of the fantastic Port William tavern, but greatly underestimated the difficulty of the terrain.Along my walk I witnessed some of the most breathtaking views I have ever seen. The coast of this particular region of Cornwall is both majestic and peaceful. It is frighteningly powerful, but also loving and kind. It is the type of place where people have for years looked out over the sea longing for their loved ones to return. I hope this music brings you the same inner peace I found on my hike that day.This piece is dedicated to Neil and his sidekick Derek, without whom I might have been just another tourist.