Valley of Rocks (Hyde)

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Valley of Rocks is a piano piece by the Australian composer Miriam Hyde. It is her best-known composition.

Valley of Rocks was composed in 1975,[http://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/workversion/hyde-miriam-valley-of-rocks/907 Australian Music Centre] and was inspired by Miriam's 1974 visit with her husband Marcus Edwards to the Valley of Rocks near the village of Lynton in North Devon, England.[https://books.google.com/books?id=3fjQGJqPM_MC&dq=%22valley+of+rocks%22+hyde&pg=PA417 Maurice Hinson, Guide to the Pianist's Repertoire]

It is quite short, lasting only about five minutes.

The work was set as one of the compulsory Australian pieces at the 1988 Sydney International Piano Competition. Contestants chose one of seven nominated works; the majority (23 of 38 contestants) chose Valley of Rocks.[http://www.abc.net.au/classic/content/2012/05/28/3511088.htm ABC Classic FM, Visions of Miriam Hyde] The broadcast of the competition by ABC Classic FM led to the piece being taken up by pianists and students all over the country, and it soon became her best known work.[http://trove.nla.gov.au/people/642641 National Library of Australia]

Miriam Hyde recorded the work in 1991, at the Canberra School of Music.[http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/33026039?versionId=40409336 Trove] It has also been recorded by Kathryn Selby and other pianists.[http://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/article/sipca-2012-australian-music-takes-centre-stage Stephen Adams, SIPCA 2012 - Australian music takes centre stage]