Loch Morlich is located in the Badenoch and Strathspey area of the Scottish Highlands. At 318 metres above sea level, it is the highest beach in the UK, and sits at the foot of the Cairngorm mountains. An area of outstanding natural beauty, the combination of the calm loch, sandy beaches and snow-topped mountains – created a very memorable, zen-like impression. A hymn-like harmonic progression for marimba came to mind whilst I was there, and from this idea the piece eventually took the form of an ‘introduction and hymn’.
Morlich Meditation was written for the Royal Academy of Music’s 200 PIECES project, and premiered by Ethan Skuodas.