SKU: FP.FHP07

ISBN 9790570504091.

This short piece for recorder and piano, written for the 50th anniversary of the Stockport Recorder College, is an affectionate memory of the double decker trams the composer recalls from his childhood in the 1930s and 40s. The conductor rings the bell, the tram starts, picks up speed and away we go bringing memories of care free days some 80 years ago.

Peter Hope has worked for many internationally known names, including Jose Carreras and Kiri te Kanawa, and other leading composers including John Williams and James Horner. His original compositions include the Suite Ring of Kerry (which won an Ivor Novello Award in1968/9), a Trumpet Concerto, performed by Elgar Howarth, a Concertino for bassoon and orchestra, recorded by Graham Salvage with the Royal Ballet Sinfonia, a Recorder Concerto, recorded by John Turner with the Manchester Camerata Ensemble, and an Oboe Sonata, recently published by Forsyth and written in memory of Evelyn Barbirolli.

Hope’s Bramall Hall Dances, for recorder and guitar/piano is also published by Forsyth and has become a standard repertoire work for the recorder. Further recorder publications Geordie Tunes, Tallis Remembered and his Recorder Sonata are available from the same publisher.

SKU: PR.446413400

UPC: 680160667406. 9 x 12 inches.

Tightrope Walker is my first piece for full orchestra. Given the large forces available to me, I wanted to write something exciting, colorful and visceral. I remembered back to when I was a kid going to see the Cirque du Soleil. That trip made a big impression on me, especially the high wire performers. These were artists performing super-human feats high in the air, where even the slightest mistake guaranteed a fatal ending. This idea of danger, of risking one's life to entertain an audience has stayed with me, and Tightrope Walker is my attempt at recreating that special childhood experience. The opening of the piece hints at what's to come - a steady, walking pulse interrupted by missteps in the woodwinds. These missteps increase until the entire orchestra comes crashing down - not a good sign for our Tightrope Walker. The tempo slows and the atmosphere becomes tense. The primary themes of the piece are presented in fragments, most notably the Tightrope Walker's theme in the horns. The orchestra gradually recovers from the previous fall, becoming more lively and coherent until the original, faster tempo is restored. We are now at the circus, excited and expectant, and the fragmentary themes heard previously are now presented in their full forms. The anticipation builds until we hear a solo drum roll - the main act is about to begin. The second half of the piece depicts the Tightrope Walker performing for his audience. But from the outset, as in the beginning of the piece, we hear there are problems. The pressure mounts, the audience clamoring for more, until Tightrope Walker comes to a decisive and potentially fatal end.
Tightrope Walker is my first piece for full orchestra.  Given the large forces available to me, I wanted to write something exciting, colorful and visceral.  I remembered back to when I was a kid going to see the Cirque du Soleil.  That trip made a big impression on me, especially the high wire performers.  These were artists performing super-human feats high in the air, where even the slightest mistake guaranteed a fatal ending.  This idea of danger, of risking one’s life to entertain an audience has stayed with me, and Tightrope Walker is my attempt at recreating that special childhood experience.The opening of the piece hints at what's to come - a steady, walking pulse interrupted by missteps in the woodwinds.  These missteps increase until the entire orchestra comes crashing down - not a good sign for our Tightrope Walker.  The tempo slows and the atmosphere becomes tense.  The primary themes of the piece are presented in fragments, most notably the Tightrope Walker's theme in the horns.  The orchestra gradually recovers from the previous fall, becoming more lively and coherent until the original, faster tempo is restored.We are now at the circus, excited and expectant, and the fragmentary themes heard previously are now presented in their full forms.  The anticipation builds until we hear a solo drum roll - the main act is about to begin.  The second half of the piece depicts the Tightrope Walker performing for his audience.  But from the outset, as in the beginning of the piece, we hear there are problems.  The pressure mounts, the audience clamoring for more, until Tightrope Walker comes to a decisive and potentially fatal end.