From Honegger’s Pacific 231 to Steve Reich’s Different Trains, and from Whitacre’s Ghost Train to Edward White’s Puffin’ Billy, the excitement of the steam train has been an inspiration to many composers. And even Dvořak was an avid train-spotter!
The power of the engine, the escaping steam, the regularity of the pistons and the clatter of the rails has resulted in many steam-inspired pieces, often in a rhythmic two-time or four-time. And, perhaps in a more gentle, three-in-a-bar, Flanders and Swann (‘Slow Train’) mood, I was inspired by the interminable announcements that one hears on trains today – ‘do not leave any belongings unattended’, ‘please make sure you have the right ticket’, ‘familiarise yourselves with the safety notices’, and ‘this train is for …. wherever’ .
My little piece, ‘Safety Notices’ (for performance see last paragraph) is a movement from my short set of safety-inspired pieces, ‘Health and Safety’. I wrote this for a boy’s choir (mid-range changing voices or cambiata) originally, but then later made versions for upper voice choir and mixed choir. All three versions are published by OUP and can be obtained here. And on this page there are links to various recordings.
Today, our experience of steam trains is from heritage railways, and there are certainly some of those in New Zealand, too, judging by the impressive train noises (as well as the singing) from the young people of Wellington in this recording. Hope you enjoy it.
(the image is of a New Zealand loco) Choo-Choo!