Peter Dickinson: Rags, Blues And Parodies For Piano

Peter Dickinson's Celebration Trio (2009) for Clarinet Violin and Piano.The trio comprises of three pieces - Fugue Lullaby and Dance.'These three pieces derive froma story by the British poet John Heath-Stubbs (1918-2006) called The Unicorns. Two unicorns are discovered ina remote part of Africa. The two countries Eastland and Westland want to obtain specimens for research sothey send out competing expeditions. The Westland technique is to lure the unicorn with a young girl singing - the Lullaby. The Eastland team uses a dancer so that theunicorn impales itself on a tree the Dance. Both teams are successfulin capturing a unicorn but the mythical animals fall in love and escape happily together in the end.In the story the Fugue celebrates the eventual capture of the unicorns but it is placed first here as a celebration of the remarkable career of the Verdehr Trio. Since theybegan in 1972 they have commissioned over 230 works have performed all over the world and made recordings. Asa result they have virtually created the repertoire forthe medium of violin clarinet and piano. I much enjoyed writing my American Trio(Hymns Rags and Blues) for the Trio in 1985; they played it all over the world andhave recorded it; and this Celebration Triois a tribute to their musicianship andphenomenal enterprise' - Peter Dickinson.

London Rags is largely based on two patriotic tunes God Save The Queen and Rule Britannia. These are used in blues and ragtime transformations and the melodies are not complete until they appear in the form of a classical rag in G major at the end. Commissioned by London Brass at the suggestion of Philip Jones. The first performance was at the Queen Elizabeth Hall London 16 December 1986. Scored for 2 Trumpets Horn Tenor Trombone and Tuba. Score available separately (NOV120873).