Description: a ballet in one act inspired by the book The Old Man of Lochnagar by HRH The Prince of Wales
Duration (mins): 33
Genre: Stage Works - Ballet/Dance
Instrumentation: 3(III=picc+pipes).2.2.ssax(=asax).2 - 4331 - timp - perc(3): vib/glsp/tamb/tgl/3 SD/mark tree/tam-t/finger cyms/BD/drum kit (with brushes)/wdbl/choke cym/susp.cym/bodhran/whip/2 tom-t/cyms/t.bells - harp - gtr - soprano solo - synth - strings
Commission Details: Commissioned by the National Youth Ballet of Great Britain
First Performance: 14.10.07, Sadler's Wells, London, UK: National Youth Ballet of Great Britain/ch. Drew McOnie (mentored by Matthew Bourne)/National Youth Ballet Sinfonia/cond. Neil Thomson
Availability: Score and parts for hire
Synopsis: A bad tempered old man, who has lived in a cave for many years, is forced by a majestic eagle to look back on his selfish life, guiding him through a spectacular Lochnagar adventure. Accidentally falling into the deep Lochnagar Loch the old man meets Lapigus Scoticus, figurehead of a wrecked ship and master of an underwater kingdom. Surrounded by beautiful water creatures, Lapigus challenges the old man to participate in the Loch Games and a dance contest. The old man recalls the romance of his lost youth, and, still in euphoric mood, he is flown off to Gormland accompanied by the eagle and a flock of highland birds. Just in time to catch the Gormland Spectacular, the old man is now completely rejuvenated, and, resisting temptation and discarding his grumpy old persona, he walks off into the sunset as a young Scotsman with the girl of his dreams on his arm.