IVOR THE ENGINE

After winning a scholarship to the Royal College of Music, Vernon Elliott later became Professor of Bassoon there as well as teaching at Trinity College of Music where he also directed the College orchestra and opera. He was a founder member and principal bassoon of the Philharmonia Orchestra for many years in addition to playing with all the other celebrated British orchestras.

Elliott's composing career began in 1958 with the theme music to 'Ivor the Engine' which was a black & white 'stop motion' animated television series, initially of six short episodes but later extended to many more, which told the story of a little steam railway engine in an imaginary part of northwest Wales. According to the introduction to this four movement suite which is drawn from the music for the TV series, "Life on the railway is peaceful, chaotic and solemnly absurd". The Signature Tune (No.1) depicts Ivor rattling along the rails, occasionally blowing his whistle and his friend Bluebell (a donkey) can be heard 'ee-oreing' alongside him in 'The Donkey Trot' (No.2). Numbers 3 and 4 are made up of phrases from the film score, originally written to enhance the atmosphere and arranged into coherent melodies for accompanied solo instrument.

'Ivor the Engine' was originally written for bassoon and piano but this set includes parts in treble clef for other instruments in C and for Bb instruments, as shown under 'Instrumentation'.

• No.2 The Donkey Trot
• No.3 A Little Reverie
• No.4 A Gentle Waltz

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