Browse Works
Additional Information
Motorcycle Michael was commissioned by the organizers of the Milton Keynes February
Festival. It was completed in December 1979 and first performed in February 1980 by
Johnny Morris (narrator) and the Milton Keynes Chamber orchestra. It is scored for the
same forces as The Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saëns, but with a harmonica
(mouth organ) instead of a glass harmonica. I confess to stealing the ‘cat chasing a
mouse’ episode from violinist Peter Cropper’s performance at a cabaret evening given by
the Lindsay String Quartet. The policeman’s appearance is heralded by the combination
of two now-forgotten TV themes, Dixon of Dock Green and Z Cars.
Forces required:
Wind: Flute/Piccolo, Clarinet (Bb), Harmonica (a keyboard on a reed setting could
substitute).
Percussion (2 players).
Player 1: Triangle, Suspended Cymbal, Snare Drum, Bass Drum, Tam-tam.
Player 2: Xylophone, 3 Timpani, Bass Drum.
2 Pianos.
Strings: Violins 1 & 2, Violas, Cellos, Doubles Basses (which must either have a D
extension, or tune the lowest string down to D).
Narrator/Vocalist.
Audience divided into two and, sometimes, four groups.