Artist: MIRRORTOWN
Catalogue Number: GRASSCD075
Price £10

Tim A. Duncan finally got the job of writing all the music for the next show, that of Barnum. Tony Mercer’s faith in Tim and his team was rewarded with what has recently been described as the best original score to date for this increasingly popular medium - Ice Dance. In view of Tony’s ambitious use of ‘circus’ type elements and multi-talented skaters, it seemed natural to tell this story on ice (Act 1 being an overview of P T Barnum’s early life followed by Act 2, exploring what a modern day Ice Circus presented by Barnum may have looked like). The score brought together all of Tim’s skills as a composer, performer and arranger, working with Edward Barnwell on the Orchestral pieces, Nick Jackson on the songs and Dave Alexander on the overall production. Highlights are most definitely ‘Flowing Waters’ and ‘Jenny’s Kiss’ by Tim and the ‘Elephant Waltz’ by Edward. Listen out for the Celtic track ‘The Web’ which was written by Dave – who said that drummers can’t write music? ‘Barnum’s Jazz Café’ has become a bit of a standard in the Jazz trio fraternity and ‘Dance of the Statues’ is currently doing the rounds in the advertising jingle world.

What really set this production apart was the almost seemless way Tim and Edward combine Symphonic Orchestral arrangements (once again using the Manchester Symphony Orchestra) alongside Electro-Pop music with ‘show-stopper’ ballads, lyricised by Nick Jackson.

Vocal highlights on the CD come from Netty Brook (A Conspiracy/George Borowski) singing as Barnum’s wife and Lizzie Coxhead, (lead soloist at Chester Cathedral Girls’ Choir) singing the part of Jenny Lind.

The CD front cover features a photograph of Merle Evens ("Ringing Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus, c1941"), widely regarded as the grandfather of circus music.