Anthony Hedges: Kingston Sketches for orchestra (1969)

One topographical work which is rarely heard, is the Kingston Sketches. This was also inspired by Hedges’s adopted hometown. The Marco Polo CD (see below) liner notes explain that in 1969, Hedges was one of several composers who were approached at short notice to generate sketches for the opening theme to a new television series. Hedges ‘jotted down’ two short ideas one evening. They were not accepted by the producers. Clearly, he felt that they were too good to lose, so Hedges extended them, and they became the ‘Waltz’ and the ‘March’ from the Kingston Sketches. Each of the three movements of this Suite is named after a Hull street. The opening ‘Waltz’ was called ‘Whitefriargate’. It is a pensive and graceful piece.  The middle ‘Romance’, which was the final piece to be composed, was entitled ‘Silver Street’. These two thoroughfares feature old buildings that were not destroyed during the Hull Blitz.  The city suffered more than 1000 hours of air raid alerts. It was the goal of the first daylight bombing raid and the last piloted air raid on Britain during the Second World War. The last movement of the Kingston Sketches is the cheerful but somewhat tongue in cheek ‘March’ called after the ‘Ferensway’. It is many years since I was in Hull, but if I recall, this road is effectively a commercial street with few historical buildings. The entire work is a delightful piece of ‘light music’ that deserves the occasional revival.

According to the liner notes, the Kingston Sketches were premiered during April 1971 by the BBC Northern Ireland Light Orchestra conducted by Havelock Nelson. However, another possible date for this first broadcast may be the 28 December 1972 when it was heard on Radio 3 and was played by the Orchestra of the Light Music Society conducted by Vernon Handley. This short Suite gained considerable popularity. It was to receive many more broadcasts and concert performances.

Reviewing the Marco Polo CD for The Gramophone (April 1998) Andrew Lamb felt that ‘The various sets of geographical impressions do ultimately tend to be rather similar in style and lacking in sharply defined characteristics. However, the disc as a whole should prove a welcome addition to the collections of more adventurous light music enthusiasts looking for something slightly different. With the composer at the helm, all is elegantly written , played and recorded.’

Discography
Anthony Hedges, British Light Music, Four Breton Sketches, Cantilena, Overture: Heigham Sound, Four Miniature Dances, Scenes from the Humber and the Kingston Sketches. RTE Sinfonietta/Anthony Hedges, Marco Polo 8223886, 1997

The Kingston Sketches has been uploaded to YouTube: I. Whitefriargate Waltz, II. Silver Street Romance, III. Ferensway March (Accessed 1 January 2021). Lots of adverts, alas.