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Work

Gravity Road : an orchestral tone poem

by Carl Vine (2014)

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The Australian Music Centre's catalogue does not include any recordings or sheet music of this work. This entry is for information purposes only.

It is listed in our catalogue because an event featuring a performance of this work was included in our calendar of Australian music. Details of this performance are listed below.

Work Overview

In 1827 the second railway line ever constructed in the United States carried raw coal from the top of Summit Hill down to the Lehigh River, at Mauch Chunk (now "Jim Thorpe") in the middle of Pennsylvania. A mule team took three hours to drag the empty cars to the top of the hill, but relaxed in a back carriage for the thirty minute ride back down, along with the coal, driven by gravity. Mine workers discovered that the high-speed downhill journey through virgin mountain scenery was distinctly thrilling, and in less productive periods tourists were invited to enjoy the ride, which became known as "The Gravity Road" - the world's first roller-coaster. Other mines proved to be more productive, and Mauch Chunk became dedicated to thrill-seekers paying fifty cents a ride (US$12.50 today). A steam engine replaced the hardy mules in 1846, and it remained a popular tourist attraction until 1932, its closure precipitated by the Great Depression.

When it first opened, the maximum Gravity Road downhill speed, exceeding 30 mph, was the fastest any human, who wasn't falling off a cliff, had ever travelled. This short orchestral tone poem is a homage to the pioneering spirit and sense of adventure that led to the construction and deployment of the Gravity Road at Mauch Chunk.

Work Details

Year: 2014

Instrumentation: 3.3.3.3-4.2.3.1-timp, 2pc, hp, strings

Duration: 10 min.

Difficulty: Advanced

Dedication note: Dedicated to John Curro. Dedicated to the first orchestral conductor to insist that I compose symphonic music, John Curro AM MBE

Commission note: Commissioned by Queensland Youth Orchestra with funds provided by Australia Council. Music Board.

First performance: by Queensland Youth Symphony, John Curro at Illuminations : Queensland Youth Symphony (QPAC Concert Hall) on 31 May 2014

Performances of this work

31 May 2014: at Illuminations : Queensland Youth Symphony (QPAC Concert Hall). Featuring Queensland Youth Symphony, John Curro.

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