Shackleton's Cross

Scored for oboe, trumpet and chamber orchestra, this work was inspired by a painting by Edward Seago. The title refers to a cross which was erected to the memory of Sir Earnest Shackleton who lead a number of explorations to the Antarctic. Shackleton died in 1922 whilst on a Polar expedition, and the cross can be found on a promontory at the entrance to the bay at Grytviken Whaling Station in South Georgia.  The painting is owned by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, and was part of an exhibition at Buckingham Palace from October 2011 to April 2012.  Click here to see an image of the painting.

A recording of Shackleton’s Cross, played by the composer, is available on the CD Inspired

In addition to the piano solo, there is an arrangement of the work for solo trumpet and organ that received its première on 8th November 2012 in Reading Concert Hall.  It was performed by the internationally renowned trumpeter Chrispian Steel-Perkins and organist David Goode.

An article about the work by the James Caird Society can be found here.