Tranquil Abiding - Paul Mealor

An 18-minute work for brass band, written for the world renowned Foden's Band. This is a melodic work divided into three movements. All sections of the band are featured with solo parts. Each movement is headed by a line from a poem by James Agee, the American novelist and poet. 'Tranquil Abiding', often referred to as 'Shamatha' in Buddhist traditions, signifies a state of peaceful and calm mental stillness, achieved through focused meditation, where the mind rests peacefully and without agitation."The term has always resonated with me particularly during my long, regular walks into, around and along the amazingly beautiful woodlands, mountains and streams of North Wales at night lit only by the stars. It's during these walks that my meditative focus is at its most emotive and I am at one with the 'it' that surrounds us", says Paul Mealor. "Often on these walks and meditations I am reminded of the American poet, James Agee's pantheistic vision of the natural world and the stars above, 'Sure on this Shining Night' which conjures a serene and harmonious image of a summer night, illuminated by celestial bodies and bathed in kindness. The poem evokes a sense of peace and tranquillity as nature heals and the earth is rejuvenated".