<<  -- 3 --  Peter Dickinson    CONTINUOUSLY FASCINATING

The music is laid out for what Crosse calls a Wedding Band and a chamber orchestra of horn and strings. The sinister tropical atmosphere is wonderfully evoked with muted trumpet trills and the mezzo, Susan Bickley, opens with a memorable melody [listen -- track 1, 0:07-0:57].

After the natives have taunted the 'white cockroaches' who are pathetically poor now without the support of their slave labour system, the Wedding Band enters in a type of Mexican Mariarchi style. Against this Antoinette recalls events such as the burning of their house, the cries of the parrot with its wings on fire, and how they just manage to rescue her deformed brother who dies later [listen -- track 2, 2:00-2:45]. Here's Crosse at his most Carribbean after more mockery of Antoinette's mother's marriage [listen -- track 3, 1:12-1:43]. You'll have to follow the rest of the story for yourself but it's continuously fascinating and Susan Bickley delivers a convincing account of her role, well supported by Martyn Brabbins.

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