The Gnarled Oak

Tone poem for carillon.
"Long ago, I had an illustrated storybook of which I was very fond. There was, however, a particular page that always disturbed me, revealing a large old oak tree at the entrance to a wood, with gnarled and twisted roots, conjuring an elusive, sinister presence... Then, quite suddenly, my book was gone; perhaps removed by a thoughtful parent, and yet, leaving a vague sense of loss... And today, I sometimes reflect on my response should I somehow, somewhere, encounter it again...?
- Geoffrey Cook