Paean was commissioned by organist Graham Eccles for a concert on St Cecilia's Day 2020, which was sadly cancelled due to covid 19. The work was inspired by John Dryden's 'A song for St Cecilia's Day' which mentions heavenly harmony, jarring atoms, the clangour of trumpets and soft flutes. As Dryden's poem is a celebration of many different aspects of the orchestra and compositional writing, so this piece explores lots of organ colour from the blazing tutti to the charming cornet, and differing combinations of mutations, reeds and flutes.