'The Anson' premier at Anson Engine Museum

17th April 2011

Categories: Modern History News

The Anson Engine Museum is one of East Cheshire's hidden gems, run on a shoestring and fuelled by enthusiasm, yet representing an important slice of the North West's industrial heritage. It is supported by a large group of skilled volunteers, many of whom once worked for the region's most famous engineering firms, such as Mirrlees, Crossley and Gardners, and who devote their time and expertise with unstinting generosity.

'The Anson' is a piece of music commissioned in 2010 by Geoff Challinor, director of the museum, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Internal Combustion Engine - one of the most significant industrial developments of the 19th century which helped to cement the North West's reputation as an industrial powerhouse. A couple of weeks ago Modern History was treated to a sneak preview of the piece, written by Jonathan Taylor, a young composer from the Royal Northern College of Music, at a launch event at the museum. The evening began with a quick tour of the museum which houses various engines and machines of all sizes and we were even given the opportunity to see some of them in action!

Once we had been around the museum we took our seats for the performance by the championship Vernon Building Society Poynton Brass Band. They started off with a few pop songs in the run up to the piece we were all waiting for and it was such a fantastic environment to enjoy the marvellous sounds of the band! Then after an introduction by Margaret Hacking of the museum and the composer himself, the audience enjoyed the first ever public performance of 'The Anson'. It was clear to see that the composer had been truely inspired by his experience of the museum, you could certainly make out the rhythmic energy of the engine within the piece.

We are still waiting for confirmation of when the piece will be performed for the general public but in the meantime why not go along to the museum yourself and hear the music of the machinery!

Check out our Flickr page to see more images!