Sirocco - Peter Graham

Sirocco was commissioned for the Doncaster Concert Band, Musical Director Karen Roberts, by the Hothouse Festival and was premiered at the Festival in March 2007. A Sirocco is a wind that originates in the Sahara and sweeps across the Mediterranean through North Africa to Southern Europe. Taking this route as his inspiration, Peter Graham has fashioned a tour-de-force for band that features three Mediterranean folk songs.

Two of the three movements are well known in their respective countries. Firstly, the fast and furious Tarantella is commonly heard as part of traditional Italian wedding celebrations whilst the Romanza can justifiably lay claim as one of Spain's most enduring melodies, synonymous with the Spanish guitar.

The final movement has its roots in traditional Greek dance music, being a mixture of slow and fast versions of the hasapiko. The best-known example of the form is the famous Zorba's Dance, and in the same manner the Sirtaki's sedate opening bars soon give way to a frenzy of activity as the entire ensemble whip up their own musical storm.