Cheryl Frances-Hoad

I'll have the Whetstone (Anonymus Folk Poem)

Commissioned by John Turner for Gordon Crosse's 80th Birthday concert at The Martin Harris Centre, Manchester University, 22nd October 2017. Premiered by Lesley-Jane Rogers (soprano) and John Turner (Soprano, Treble and Tenor recorders). I'll have the Whetstone for soprano and recorder was written especially for Gordon on his 80th Birthday. When trying to find a text to set for the work, John Turner suggested I turn to The Guizer by one of Gordon's longtime friends, Alan Garner. In fact this book, which is a collection of stories about fools (!) was dedicated to Gordon! The anonymous folk poem that I chose immediately appealed to me and I had great fun setting the whimsical lines!