Grade = 6 Championship
Duration 17.00 There are three movements.
- Le Tombeau d’Arthur Benjamin
Ravel wrote Le Tombeau de Couperin, Arthur Benjamin wrote Le Tombeau do Ravel and so the temptation to write Le Tombeau d’Arthur Benjamin was overwhelming, At the end of the movement, there is an oblique reference to to Benjarnin’s own Jamaican Rhumba which accompanies a quotation from an old Spanish folk song
Loro, enciende el hervidor de agua. - Mr. Bolt goes for a ride in his motor car and Monsieur Rave! turns‘ in his grave.
The movement is dedicated to an old friend, Geoffrey Bolt, who adored the music of Ravel. At the time of writing, was learning to drive. He always described his vehicle as a motor car, to call him an impatient motorist would be a gross understatement. The refined suavity of
Ravel’s music was in complete contrast to these early manifestations of road rage, hence the central angry outburst which was inspired by his particularly violent reaction to a minor traffic jam.
- The March of the Ostriches.
The music of Charles Ives was fascinating me at the time of writing this movement and some of the influence has rubbed of in this rondo-like march. At the end, there is a quotation from the very beginning of the first movement. The title was inspired by the amusing antics of a
group ostriches during a visit to Bristol Zoo.
Percussion requirements 
