A Thing of Beauty

Programme Notes

When the Milton Philharmonic Orchestra asked me to compose a short piece for their “A Night at the Proms” concert, my first concern was how to create something that would complement the patriotic and overtly romantic British repertoire so iconic of the Last Night of the Proms celebrations. After all, I don’t have any British ancestry, and while I like to think of my musical voice as accessible to a wide audience, I’m still a modern-day composer who aims to leave a unique personal imprint on all my work. Additionally, my political leanings don’t exactly align with composing a traditional, flag-waving patriotic piece.

As I delved deeper into research, I discovered that the Last Night of the Proms often features repertoire that touches the heart and soul. Inspired by this, I decided to explore the simple yet profound emotion of love. I was particularly moved by the opening lines of John Keats’ poem:

A thing of beauty is a joy for ever:
Its loveliness increases; it will never
Pass into nothingness;

From there, the piece came together almost effortlessly. The sound of an orchestra is the perfect vehicle to convey beauty, loveliness, and enduring passion. So many rich, breathtaking sonorities! While contemporary composers often focus on more serious themes, I felt that the world—both musical and otherwise—could use more love. After all, what better way to express the warmth and unity we all need than through music?

– Frank Horvat

Many thanks to Maestro John Kraus for his input on the orchestration of this work.