The Edgeley Tram - Peter Hope

This short piece for recorder and piano, written for the 50th anniversary of the Stockport Recorder College, is an affectionate memory of the double decker trams the composer recalls from his childhood in the 1930s and 40s. The conductor rings the bell, the tram starts, picks up speed and away we go bringing memories of care free days some 80 years ago.

Peter Hope has worked for many internationally known names, including Jose Carreras and Kiri te Kanawa, and other leading composers including John Williams and James Horner. His original compositions include the Suite Ring of Kerry (which won an Ivor Novello Award in1968/9), a Trumpet Concerto, performed by Elgar Howarth, a Concertino for bassoon and orchestra, recorded by Graham Salvage with the Royal Ballet Sinfonia, a Recorder Concerto, recorded by John Turner with the Manchester Camerata Ensemble, and an Oboe Sonata, recently published by Forsyth and written in memory of Evelyn Barbirolli.

Hope’s Bramall Hall Dances, for recorder and guitar/piano is also published by Forsyth and has become a standard repertoire work for the recorder. Further recorder publications Geordie Tunes, Tallis Remembered and his Recorder Sonata are available from the same publisher.

Click here to hear this piece performed by John Turner, via YouTube.