Elgar Howarth

Chatham Dances

Chatham Dances was written around 1985, in response to a commission from a local Arts committee in the Medway area of the Thames estuary. Chatham is a town in that district.
It was my idea to write a set of dances for the local Medway brass band, the pieces to be used as a ballet danced by local children. This proved to be impossible to organise and the dances were played just once in concert instead.
There are seven movements:
1) Fanfare: Summons / assembly. A gathering together of the dance company.
2) A first general dance in preparation for
3) The work-place, perhaps a factory. Machine-like music; humour: a bullying fore-man (after letter C, etc.): more humour: the fore-man angry.
4) Prelude - Summer bells: a peaceful break from work.
5) The womens’ dance: graceful, swaying, mysterious.
6) The mens’ dance: heavy, strong, suddenly thoughtful - again heavy.
7) Summons 2: a signal for a new assembly and the end of the day’s work.
8) Exeunt - march out. Work ended: going home: happy, more humour: the fore-man mocked.

Elgard Howarth, June 2010, Suffolk, England