University of York Music Press

Written for solo accordion, the work is Gilbert's response to viewing the west Rose Window of Bayeux Cathedral which Gilbert said glowed in rhythms of rose pink and sky blue. Hilary Finch of the Times described it as a ten-minute piece of beguiling beauty, its slowly refracting harmonies sensuous, its variations on a curling chant haunted by Eastern modes and spectral, toccata-like dances.

Commissioned by the Goldberg Ensemble to celebrate his 70th birthday in 2004, Gilbert's Palace of the Winds is also based upon a visit to an intricate and complex building, this time a palace in Jaipur, India. The composer's work for 11 solo strings is a musical construct reflecting the beauty of the architectural centre of Jaipur; Gilbert describes this process as building stage by stage to a turreted high point before returning via chant and chorale to the longest most elaborate passage of murmured polyphony, almost a lament. The world premiere was given by the Goldberg Ensemble in Southampton 5 February 2004 and was followed by six further performances.