The Infernal Train

Composer

Shea Lolin: www.shealolin.co.uk

General Information

Year: 2020

Duration: 4 minutes

Publisher: Unpublished (Further details directly from Shea Lolin)

Instrumentation

Piccolo

Flute I-II

Oboe I-II

Bb Clarinet I-III

Bb Bass Clarinet

Bb Contrabass Clarinet

Eb Alto Saxophone I-II

Bb Tenor Saxophone

Eb Baritone Saxophone

Bassoon I-II

Contrabassoon

Programme Note

Early in 2020, when reviewing the train music for the Bloomsbury Woodwind Ensemble, I felt a slightly different voice was needed to contrast the programme. So much music based around trains has the clichéd train rhythm, some of course more sophisticated than others!

When doing some research, I took inspiration from the video game Alice: Madness Returns. The Infernal Train is an evil location and an evil creation in the video game. It is a giant train forged of grim-looking masonry and steel controlled by the Dollmaker.

The image of it is truly horrifying!

It is described as thus: “The Infernal Train is a huge, fiery and truly horrifying locomotive. It has giant buildings on and in the train, making it seem like a bizarre union between a giant cathedral and a demonic train.”

I was particularly fascinated with the idea of it being a location and creation. Perhaps something very unpredictable or at least hidden depending on how you had viewed it.

I have created a short piece which is rhythmic, fast and bold. This is contrasted with a short reflective section. The rhythmic invention of the piece should not sound at peace or steady, the wilder the better – the sections that have seemingly steady instrumental parts have punctuated interjections and decorations to give an unnerving feeling. Shea Lolin, April 2020.