William Sweeney

I was born in Glasgow, Scotland’s biggest city, which once made steam locomotives and ships for the whole world. I studied there and in London as a clarinettist, gradually became a composer and lately turned to academic work in the Department of Music at the University of Glasgow.

I am here at the Saari Residence to put the finishing touches on a Sonata for Cello and Piano. I began the work in collaboration with the fine Scottish cellist, Robert Irvine and will complete the process with the wonderful Finnish cellist Erkki Lahesmaa. Erkki will give the first performance in Glasgow in October this year and Robert will come to Turku to give the first performance in Finland in November. They will also play together an existing piece of mine Tree o’ Licht (Tree of Light). The title is an old Scots way of referring to the silver birch tree: no shortage of them around Saari Manor! – and no shortage of light, air and peace think things through.

I’m also beginning work on a new piece, for voices and orchestra, exploring the poem Oh tierra esperame (Oh, Earth, Wait for Me) by Pablo Neruda. Each new work has to be an act of exploration and I hope that my discoveries in the paths, forests and seashore around Saari Manor will lead me to unexpected conclusions.