Symphony No.6 op.25 (Tranquility) by David Burndrett Large Ensemble - Digital Sheet Music

Symphony No. 6 (Tranquility)

Symphony No. 6 is a single-movement orchestral work composed during the autumn of 2020, a period marked by global uncertainty but also by moments of quiet reflection and human closeness. Written between the early hours of 1 September 2020 and the evening of 5 September 2020, the symphony unfolds at an unhurried pace, tracing a calm and contemplative musical arc that gradually moves toward near silence. At the heart of the work lies a recurring pizzicato bass figure, shared between double bass and harp or piano, which provides a steady, grounding presence throughout the symphony. This repeated foundation recalls the idea of a passacaglia, offering continuity while the music above it evolves slowly in texture, harmony, and colour. The gentle pulse of this figure contributes to the symphony’s laid-back, meditative character, allowing the music to breathe and unfold with restraint and clarity.

For most of the symphony, the orchestra carries the musical narrative with simplicity and control. Only near the conclusion does an accordion enter, not as a featured solo instrument but as a quiet, symbolic presence. Its material is deliberately simple, functioning as a moment of recognition rather than display.

The inclusion of the accordion was inspired by a deeply personal moment shortly before the work was composed, when the composer’s father, Jeff Burndrett, who was by then largely near silence, unexpectedly returned to the instrument and played a few familiar tunes from memory. Although he spoke very little at this time, the act of making music revealed a form of expression that existed beyond words. This brief but powerful experience shaped the character of the symphony’s closing moments.

In June 2023, following the passing of the composer’s father, a small choir of voices was added near the end of the work. Entering quietly and without text, these voices create an ethereal, almost angelic sonority that blends seamlessly with the orchestra and accordion, extending the final moments into a space of calm, remembrance, and gentle release.

Lasting approximately 12 minutes, Symphony No. 6 is intimate in scale and reflective in tone. It is well suited to concert programmes featuring contemporary orchestral music, works exploring memory and remembrance, or repertoire that favours slow, evolving textures and grounded musical forms.

Duration: approx. 9 minutes

Instrumentation: Orchestra with pizzicato bass foundation (harp or piano and double bass); accordion appearing near the conclusion; optional small choir

Download includes the score and all of the parts.