Soundposts

Instrumentation: String orchestra and tambour (drum).

Duration: 12 minutes

Suggested Programming Format: Concert where a contemporary Scottish programmatic work is appropriate.

Description: The work consists of three movements, each inspired from eighteenth century accounts of postal service activities. Program notes for the work include these descriptions:

At the Saracen's Head, Glasgow, 1755, when the Edinburgh coach (now carrying mail as well as passengers) arrived, it was met by two waiters with embroidered coats, red plush breeches and powdered hair. C. A. Oakley "Second City"

1. St. Andrews Entry
   "Parcels can be uplifted from the London Stage at James Giddes's, St. Andrew's Entry" Jones' Directory of Glasgow, 1792
   
2. The Moolet
   In the late eighteenth century, a night passenger and goods boat carried mail on the Forth and Clyde Canal. Local people, seeing her two lamps in the dark, christened her "the Hoolet" (the Owl)
   Guthrie Hutton : A Forth and Clyde Canalbum
   
3. Claverhouse Post
   An eighteenth century mail coach rattles out of Dundee. This was before the area enjoyed "the most signal benefits from the excellent turnpike roads lately constructed"
   Statistical account of Dundee, 1792  

History: Soundposts was commissioned by the Scottish Post Office Board on the occasion of the three hundred and sixtieth anniversary of public service in Scotland and received its world premiere in Glasgow in 1995. The American premiere of Soundposts was performed by the California Music Educators Bay Section honor string orchestra in January, 1998, under the direction of Vincent Gomez.

About the Edition. The full score and each insturmental part for Soundposts is published in an individually covered edition, with cover stock front and back and bound with a heatseal binding process. The binding process makes for a permanent part collection for your orchestral library. Each part can lie flat, be placed in an orchestra folder, or can be opened completely to the edge of each page without damaging the seal. The set comes with a string set of 12-12-10-10-10 and one copy of the (tambour) percussion part.

About the composer.

Ordering Information:

• Order conductor's study score on-line ($11.95 + $4.20 Shipping/Handling in USA/Canada). Select the Music for Orchestra category.
• Order complete performance set on-line which includes score, parts, and performance license ($95.00 + $13.00 Shipping/Handling in USA/Canada). Deluxe Edition: Bound score and parts. Select the Music for Orchestra category.
• Print order form for mail order or to generate a purchase order.
• Performance license information.

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