University of York Music Press

The three works — The Light Garden, The Fourteenth Terrace and Bavad Khair Baqi — are performed by The Tate Ensemble, Lantano with clarinettist Andrew Sparling, and the violinist Peter Sheppard Skærved, and will be interleaved with traditional Afghan music played by Ensemble Bakhtar. The trilogy is based on the culture of 16th century Afghanistan, in particular the gardens built by the warrior-poet, Zahiru'd-din Muhammad Babur outside Kabul.

The composer writes "The Light Garden takes its title from one of the ancient names for Afghanistan, with the concluding work of the trilogy deriving from part of the inscription on Babur's tomb, Bavad khair baqi! (May this goodness last for ever!). Together with The Fourteenth Terrace, the pieces move their focus from the country of Afghanistan to the garden near Kabul and finally to Babur's tomb itself." Presented in collaboration with the Royal Academy of Music York Gate Soundbox Series, the composer will discuss the genesis of the trilogy and her use of musics from Afghanistan, in the York Gate Collection String Gallery at 4pm on the afternoon of the concert.

CD launch concert — Marylebone Parish Church, Baker Street, London, 30 September 2003 at 8pm