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Mince Spies

- for Narrator and Orchestra



A story in words and music of a Christmastide long ago, when the English Parliament banned Christmas.

SCORING:
2+pic,2+bcl, 2,2 / 2,2,31 / timp.perc(2) / strings / nar
Notes: Bass Clarinet is optional; the narrator needs a handbell

DURATION: Approx. 15 minutes

AVAILABILITY: Contact Lawrence Killian by Email

Composed in 2023, Mince Spies for Narrator and Orchestra was inspired by his daughter Sarah’s storybook “The Mince Spies”. The story is about the Canterbury and East Anglian ‘Plum Pudding Riots’ in England during the time of Oliver Cromwell.

PROGRAMME NOTE
Combined with the narration, the music conjures up images of a busy English town during preparations for Christmas in 1647.

At that time, the Puritan government had officially banned Christmas, Easter, and Whitsun festivities, church services and celebrations, including festivities at home. There were fines if this law was broken, and in some places,  the threat of sending ‘offenders’ to prison. This varied in each area depending on how rigorously the so-called ‘Rule of the Major Generals’ was upheld.

The Christmas ban was unpopular, with riots in Kent and other places. This was also the time when the country was in disarray due to the Civil War. Some riots may have been an excuse for pro-Royalist rebels to cause trouble for the Parliamentarians on the opposite side.

Our story unfolds through the eyes of a young girl, Ivy Johnston, who, like many, couldn’t wait for Christmas to come.

The structure of the music and narration follows the descriptive headlines within the story:

🎶 Orchestral Prelude, Setting the Scene:
An English town in early December 1647.

Once Upon a Time

A Change in the Air

No More Fun

The Watchmen

🎶 Orchestral Interlude 1:
No Christmassing!

Secret Celebrations

🎶 Orchestral Interlude 2:
Into the Woods ….

The Mince Spies

🎶 Orchestral Interlude 3:
Those Devious Mince Spies

Act of Bravery

The Rebellion

🎶 Orchestral Interlude 4:
‘Bun-fight’

The Mayor

Finale

🎶 Orchestral Interlude 5:
Christmas Celebrated

Epilogue 

Lawrence Killian, Suffolk 2023

CONCERT PERFORMANCES/ REVIEWS

09 December 2023 - Festive Music and Carols and More
St Mary’s Church, Banbury, UK.
The Banbury Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Paul Willett