Orchestration: Violin 1, Violin 2, Viola, Cello, Bass, Harp
A suite of six movements depicting scenes around Seaford in Sussex.
THE CUCKMERE The river Cuckmere flows gracefully down the slopes of the Weald through the South Downs before meandering picturesquely through Cuckmere Haven to join the sea by the chalk cliffs of the Seven Sisters.
SEAFORD HEAD The headland between Cuckmere Haven and Seaford town was for a long time the scene of dastardly deeds as smugglers would hang lanterns there at night to lure ships onto the rocks below and plunder their cargoes. The music opens with thunder, lightning and driving rain before harp chords announce the sighting of a ship, whereupon urgent signals are passed between the smugglers until they set out, stealthily at first but increasingly brazenly, till the ship is wrecked and robbed. They march away from the beach with their booty and the movement ends with a final crash of thunder and lightning as the storm passes.
THE CRYPT The stone undercroft of a 13th century house. The movement is based on Sumer Is Icumen In, a 13th century round,
TIDE MILLS Now a lost village but once a lively community working the 18th century flour mills just outside Seaford.
BISHOPSTONE A sleepy, picturesque village on a road going nowhere on the outskirts of Seaford, famous for its eighth century Saxon church.
THE MARTELLO TOWER The tower was built in 1811 in anticipation of invasion by Napoleon. Martial music portrays French troops mustering across the Channel for the intended invasion. Snatches of the Marseillaise and Rule Britannia answer one another until the tower's cannon is fired in an act of defiance. Rule Britannia then becomes a merry skater's waltz and is followed by a chorus of Sussex by the Sea, the county's unofficial anthem.
A PACK includes a full score plus strings 4/4/3/4/2 and harp.
Duration 21 minutes