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Handguns:A Suite
The more one writes programme notes for works the more one seems to question their function. I have never been too attracted to large political statements in notes, nor indeed producing detailed background information on my motives for producing work.
It has been over two years since a friend of mine described me as a Post-modern slut when I told him I was planning a suite based on different designs of handguns. At that time it seemed simple enough to most other people, a slightly provocative idea, using weapons of destruction as the basis for a suite, rather than the usual people, paintings or places, As I said in a programme note in 1995, design wise handguns are beautiful and tactile objects, they have to be, and one has to constantly remind oneself that their function is to control and cause pain. They all bring with them their own history and mythology, a mythology we have created around them, and a mythology I have tried to reflect in each movement. Design and mythology were the main factors for colouring the material for each movement, but were not the main factors which inspired me to write the suite.
I have said before that I do not like large political statements in notes, nor am I attracted to hijacking the concert stage as a moral platform, nevertheless I must say that I find it simultaneously maddening and saddening that we create a world around us that allows a tragedy like Dunblane to happen, and equally maddening that our society requires such a tragedy to make us sufficiently conscious of that world and the dangers we allow to be created. And this terrible situation, by confusing the context of a handgun within a classical suite, was the real inspiration behind this work, which was conceived and mostly written before the tragedy of March of this year. The six movements, with subtitles, are as follows:
1 – Fishtail and Lemonbutt of David Mackenzie of Dundee 1635 – Introduction and double invention
Throughout the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries Dundee was a centre of excellence for gunmaking. Mercenaries used to pick up guns on the way to various uprisings in Europe. The family firm of Mackenzie was well respected and David Mackenzie was the last gunsmith in Dundee. Guns of this period were notoriously unreliable, dueling pistols included. In fact , the odds of coming away from a duel unscathed were quite high, what with misalignments and misfires, and this is reflected in the per haps perversely intentionally awkward ensemble writing. The gun inspiring this movement is an extremely ornate, silver engraved model with the coat of arms of Dundee on it. It belongs in a private collection.
2 – Walther Polizei Pistole Kriminal 1957 – Passacaglia arioso
The Walther PPK is probably the most stylishly designed and recognisable handguns of all; a sleek classic design with hints of both sophistication and seediness. James Bond, a childhood hero of mine, had to trade in his trusty Berretta for one, only then to become synonymous with the design. Goldfinger is still one of my favourite films, and as an extra anecdotal note I used to go to the same barber as John Barry. 3 – Chinese Revolutionary Pistol 1945 – Interlude Chinese handguns are almost impossible to catalogue, as in America’s copyright war; the Chinese gun industry has quite happily copied all other famous designs, particularly Soviet. It is perhaps interesting to muse that this is similar to the shameless and insulting pilfering that the West has enjoyed with regards to Chinese music, and if this movement is anything to go by, perhaps still does.
4 – Mauser 1915 – waltz
The term Mauser is another confusing handgun description. Most people would recognise the gun as a Luger which was the name of the original designer. The design was a standard for the German armies of both World Wars and the later decorated Nazi models have sadly become extremely collectible.
5 – Baby Browning 1904 – Scherzo
The Baby Browning model of 1904 is not strictly a Baby model, the Baby was given its official title in the 1920Õs. Still one of the smallest handguns it was strangely very popular in Spain, and fits snugly into the palm of the hand.
6 – Amiable Disagreements circa 1879 – Fantasia burlesque
This movement explores probably the most fertile area of gun manufacturing, the myth known as The Wild West. Focusing on the most famous models, Colt 45 Peacemaker, Remington Navy Model, Smith and Wesson and the original Derringer derringer ( the gamblers pocket gun ) it was originally intended to be Coplandish, although its probably ended up having more to do with Randolph Scott and Audie Murphy. In fact it’s more about various Saturday afternoons in Dundee when I was a child watching old westerns on television (or rather watching my father watch old westerns) and the arguments which would then ensue. My father is still a fan of old westerns and I myself have come to appreciate their strange charm. As a result of this, this movement reminds me of rain mixed with Technicolor plains.
Handguns: A Suite was commissioned by the Paragon Ensemble Scotland with a financial subsidy from the Scottish Arts Council. Mackenzie, Walther PPK and Baby Browning are dedicated to the Paragon Ensemble, Mauser to Steve Smart, and Amiable Disagreements is dedicated with love to my father.
Instrumentation
1.(db harmonica).1.1.1/1.1.1.0/piano/1 perc/1.1.1.1.1
First Performance
Paragon Ensemble RSAMD Glasgow 1997