A Ripping Yarn
Instrumentation
Bassoon
2
Cello
6
Clarinet
2
Double bass
2
Flute
2
French Horn
2
Oboe
2
Percussion
2
Piccolo
1
Timpani
1
Trombone
1
Trumpet
2
Viola
6
Violin 1
8
Violin 2
7
Additional Information
This short orchestral work was commissioned by the Kingston Third Age Orchestra for their 10th aniversary concert. It was due to be premiered in March 2020 but sadly the performance had to be postponed due to the Covid-19 epidemic. It is a tone poem describing an epic journey that my grandfather undertook in 1918-19. Departing from Basra, he was instructed by the British Expeditionary Force to travel by boat and train to Tomsk, in Siberia, via Vladivostock. The description of his experiences in his autobiography was the inspiration behind its musical style and content. The four chords alluding to Puccini's Tosca at the beginning was because it was his favourite opera.
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Title
A Ripping Yarn
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