Composition

A lot of these were written and recorded in 2011 as part of a Song-A-Week project (self explanatory!), which raised a bunch of cash for Parkinson's UK, but did absolutely nothing for my sanity (most of them were recorded in frantic one-day sessions).  

I'm really proud of these songs.  I hope you enjoy some of them, too - please feel free to comment!

Original Songs

Film Soundtracks

From the film, Hermeneutica (2021), Dir. Lara Jensen.

Kweasy Mart

Piece for solo viola inspired by the folk tune "Go To Berwick, Johnny."  Performed here by Sanya.

Go Johnny Go Go Go Go

Go Johnny Go Go Go Go (2022)

String quartet inspired by the struggle to reinvent oneself, inspired by the song "Same" from 2011 (https://soundcloud.com/falconermusic/40-40-same)

sama (2022)

In 1968, the GDR authorised a concert of western "Beat Music" bands to take place in Leipsig. The Stasi was not pleased with the positive reaction of the East German youth, and wrote a lengthy report, from which this text has been extracted.
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Sergeant First Class - Mezzo-Soprano (Jennifer Coleman)
Secretary - Alto Saxophone
Leipsig Peoples' Police station, Department K1 - Piano

Wir Dulden Keine Gammler (2022)

An upbeat and optimistic piece in three movements for concert band.​This piece was written for and with the Band of the Surrey Yeomanry, with the support of Making Music and Sound & Music, as part of the 2023 Adopt A Music Creator scheme.  It is a tribute to to the way the Band of the Surrey Yeomanry have evolved in repertoire and practice since devolving from their original military background, and the importance of keeping community and leisure time bands alive, even when politicians and financiers fail to see their worth.​With upmost gratitude to Michael Withers and all the members of the Band, and Fraser Trainer.

And still we carry on (2023) - premiere excerpts

Written for - and workshopped by - mdi ensemble with Lisa Streich in Milan, December 2023. 
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Contains Snookish elements... Later adapted for Bella Danby gave me this tune (2024)

Fatto è meglio che perfetto (2023)

This piece contains fragments of 'The Burning of the Kirky Lee', a song about the 1867 distruction of the houseboat of that name belonging to Seaton Snook resident John Wills, also known as Timon of the Tees.
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Many in the town accused the local cocklewomen of the act, but this was entirely without basis, and Wills himself - who died the following year - never made such accusations.

For more information, visit www.seatonsnook.com
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Adapted from Fatto è meglio che perfetto (2023)

Bella Danby gave me this tune

30 Bakelite Lady

Recorded as part of the song-a-week project back in 2011 (which is kind of self-explanatory)

When things are at their bleakest, this is for the one in your life who keeps you going.

If I Only Do One Thing Today (saw2011 demo)

An upbeat and optimistic piece in three movements for concert band.​This piece was written for and with the Band of the Surrey Yeomanry, with the support of Making Music and Sound & Music, as part of the 2023 Adopt A Music Creator scheme.  It is a tribute to to the way the Band of the Surrey Yeomanry have evolved in repertoire and practice since devolving from their original military background, and the importance of keeping community and leisure time bands alive, even when politicians and financiers fail to see their worth.​With upmost gratitude to Michael Withers and all the members of the Band, and Fraser Trainer.

And Still We Carry On - midi demo of all movements

From the original Song A Week 2011 blog: 

Surrey-based stoner rock band Earthtide are well worth a look.  A trio of excellent musicians, playing music somewhere between Deep Purple and Black Sabbath, in amongst the set is a song about Jaws called "Bigger Boat."  Superb song, and it was suggested by someone that they do a song about Armageddon next.  Despite never having seen the damn film, I volunteered to write it for them.  This meant watching it.  Hell's teeth.  I'm a fan of Bruce Willis, and Steve Buscemi's never played a bad role as far as I know... but this yee-har, gung-ho, slack-jawed, GO AMERICA! nonsense peddled by Jerry Bruckheimer gets right on my tit ends.  I really am suffering for my art here, guys.  Just hope nobody asks me to write a song about Gigli or Catwoman.  Still, it passed a couple of hours.

In writing the song itself, I had to come up with a riff that sounded Earthtide-ish, but at the same time different enough to warrant a place in their set.  If it sounded exactly like another one of their songs, why would they bother playing it?  I think the verse and solo riffs sound pretty authentic, but the change comes in the chorus, which is much more American and Foo Fightersy than the rest of their set - which kind of fits in with the All American Action Movie premise, I guess.  The words are made up almost entirely from lines in the film, though I couldn't quite get the line "I have repeatedly asked you to call me dad" in there.

End Of The World (2011)

Written and recorded in 2011; remixed and remastered in 2016.  What does it mean to you? Find me and let me know. ✌🏼

Centre Of The World (SaW 2011)

Meditative song about finding peace in a big city.

Waterloo Staircase (SaW 2011)

Recorded as part of the song-a-week project back in 2011 (which is kind of self-explanatory)

Lush, salty sea-ballad

Escape on Amenartas (Saw2011 demo)

Recorded as part of the song-a-week project back in 2011 (which is kind of self-explanatory)

Me trying to be Todd Rundgren, I guess. Pleased with the sound of the guitar solo - Strat-tastic!

Lucky One (Saw2011 demo)

It's Christmas, so why not?

Original track recorded in 2011 as part of the Song A Week project. Remixed and Remastered in 2020.

Johnny Got A Toy

Buy for a quid!

Johnny Got A Toy (Christmas 2020)

James Silvester over at the "A Little Bit Of This" podcast came up with an idea for a film called Party Ghost. 

I had lots of work to be getting on with, so naturally I decided to record this theme tune, and get Penny "One Take" Fazackerley to do the vocals.

Party Ghost

Soundtrack to a short film documenting the activities of a beekeeper.

Film directed by Francis Hooton.

We need bees.  More than pandas.

Save the bees!

https://friendsoftheearth.uk/bees

226 Bees (2018)

Written and recorded for a run of popular monstrosities, Tozzi Toys.  Buy one now.  Search for Telekinetic Gary.

Tozzi Toys Ad (2016)

Horrific ambient filth. 
Cover image: Andy Warhol by Richard Avedon, August 20, 1969

A Nice Day Out Smearing Vaseline On Andy Warhol's Scar Tissue (2020)

It has been my pleasure to work with Speke Hall and the Early Modern Soundscapes network, on a new piece called “At Last, The Leopards”

You may already know about the Priest Holes at Speke Hall, built into the building when Roman Catholicism was illegal, and how some members of the Norris household would have to hide in these secret rooms when the authorities came to visit.  

There are several other features of the building that enabled the residents to keep on guard against unfriendly visitors, such as the eavesdrops in the courtyard, and the listening gallery in the great hall; there’s even a spy hole in the Green bedroom!

I recorded sounds all over Speke Hall itself, including the courtyard, the minstrel gallery and the listening gallery, even getting in costume while making the recordings so that it was as authentic as possible!  Some of the volunteers were there in character to add their voices and historical knowledge, and I took some words from The Autobiography of John Gerard, a Jesuit priest who found himself having to hide in priest holes very similar to that at Speke.  

Wear headphones, and close your eyes.  After a brief tour around the building, you’ll hear what it might have been like to have had to run to hide from the authorities.  You may even hear the beating of a terrified heart, and wonder how you might have felt if you were having to live in secret. 

Thank you for reading this introduction, and I hope you enjoy At Last, The Leopards.

At Last, The Leopards (2019)

Meditative piece for solo viola.  Performed by Kasia Zimińska.  Score available for performance: email peterfalconer@googlemail.com

Take Your Coat Off When You Get In

Take Your Coat Off When You Get In (2020)

Doctor of Music Composition
Curator of the Seaton Snook archive
Available for Voiceovers and Narration

Peter Falconer

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