Martin Lloyd Howard Evokes the English Countryside on “Surrey Bells”

English guitarist and composer Martin Lloyd Howard continues his exploration of landscapes, images and moods with “Surrey Bells,” an original instrumental single released on September 21, 2026.

Based in Reigate, Howard has developed a distinctive musical approach shaped by both classical tradition and more contemporary guitar styles. His influences range from John Dowland and Julian Bream to folk players such as Davey Graham and Martin Simpson, alongside rock guitarists Jimmy Page and Ritchie Blackmore. That wide background comes through clearly in “Surrey Bells,” where atmosphere and expression are just as important as structure.

The piece was written for two guitars and recorded at Howard’s home using his Tanglewood steel string guitar. Both parts were created in DADGAD tuning, with one guitar given a more distant and echoing character. The idea was to recreate the sound and feeling of church bells travelling across the Surrey countryside.

More specifically, Howard imagined two sets of bells answering each other across a rural valley on a bright winter morning. That image became central to the arrangement, with the two guitar parts interacting in a way that gives the music a strong sense of distance, depth and open space.

Rather than following a strict classical structure, “Surrey Bells” has a fluid and organic quality. Howard places strong emphasis on the way the piece is performed, allowing the movement between the guitars to shape its character.

The result is a meditative yet lively composition that transforms a simple geographical image into an expressive instrumental scene. “Surrey Bells” also forms part of Howard’s wider series of compositions designed to turn places, moods and visual ideas into music.