Hat Box

The main work on this reissue of the original Campion Cameo release is the eponymous Hat Box (Alan Bullard), a celebration of the town of Stockport, home to recorder virtuoso John Turner, to whom (with guitarist Neil Smith) this piece is dedicated. Stockport was formerly the centre of the hat-manufacturing industry and gave it's name to the hymn-tune Stockport, written by 18th century Stockport organist John Wainwright for the carol Christians awake, salute the happy morn. The eight hats depicted in this suite refer to phrases from Wainwright's famous tune. The rest of this delightful collection for recorder and guitar features works by composers with North-West connections, such as David Ellis and John Golland, and other friends of John's who enjoy writing for the recorder maestro. Added to this re-release is one new recording, a new composition for solo recorder by Scottish composer John Purser. This is a beautiful, evocative, and haunting work entitled Skye Blue, a musical depiction of the Isle of Skye, where the composer currently resides