the old man of storr
2010 (revised 2021)
PIANO SOLO
The Old Man Of Storr is an extended piano piece inspired by a driving trip with my partner to the Isle Of Skye, Scotland in Summer 2010. The piece is a response to the atmospheres conjured by the persistent fog which pervaded the island throughout our visit — depicted in the music as serene, static harmonies and folk-like melodies; a slow and gradual triumphant build of energy and a concluding state of peace and tranquillity.
The Old Man Of Storr was commissioned by arts publicist Wendy Niblock for the 60th birthday of her partner — BBC Panorama producer Murdoch Rodgers. I premiered the work in a live concert at the No.10 Hotel in Glasgow on 1 October 2010.
The Old Man Of Storr was revised in Spring 2021.
Written & Performed by David Paul Jones
Recorded @ CaVa Studios, Glasgow, Sep 2010
Engineered by Geoff Allan
© ℗ 2010 Blue Banyan Music
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The Old Man Of Storr
Gazing across the sea,
atop his mountain perched,
for thousands of years past,
the old man whom I searched.
Icy winds blowing strong,
cuts like a dagger,
damp green moors to ascend,
and over jagged formations I stagger.
Taking my time as I rise,
every step the picture enhances,
sitting to rest and admire each time,
from the sky, snow gently dances.
At the gates of a menacing valley,
I can hear the old man whistle,
the old man standing guard with his staff,
as I pass a lone Scottish thistle.
Standing beside this ancient giant,
staring across the path I’ve tread,
through rocky slopes scattered with snow,
past the damp green trail my eyes are led.
Across the ocean my eyes scout,
snow rushing past the old man and me,
over plateauing ponds and out,
until his mountain reaches the sea.
— Anonymous
Images © Rob McDonald