The Scourged Back is the name of a photograph, taken in 1863. It's of the lacerated back of a Louisiana slave known as Whipped Peter, you can imagine how awful this photograph is. I can't show it here. This is the story of his escape from his plantation and arrival in Baton Rouge, where he joined the Union army in…
An African legend, of a young girl, her capture and escape from an evil ogre, and the hideous death inflicted on him by the girl's father. Lots of detailed storytelling, many scenes and atmospheres, and 'curtain calls' from the main characters at the end!
There’s a glorious picture of Glastonbury Tor, and I’ve yet to find the photographer who took it. This piece is entirely based on this one incredible image, mostly bright orange, of the sunset mists across the fields, rooks rising from foreground trees, and the magnificent monument itself, just rising on its tor above the clouds.
This shouldn't mess with the marcher's feet, but it might, as the accompanying figure is often in 3/4 Waltz time. There's a slightly G&S-style middle section (I changed the traditional order round a bit in this one) and then the melodramatic bass tune, which is a version of The Blue Danube. Lots of fun.
I used to live in Walthamstow, and this is a short, light piece, the most traditionally-brass-band I’ve written, with a catchy theme and middle section. What makes it Walthamstow is the postcode bridge section, where during its brief four bars, 17 Es are heard on the flugel and xylophone.
This is a simple piece written for the CSD Brass Band, which stands for Cambridge and Surrounding District. My old pal Chris Lawrence is the conductor, and they rehearse in a lovely old church in the town. Having been to a rehearsal (for another piece of mine) I decided to write them one of their own. The letters C, S…
