Down The Rabbit Hole

This evocative work depicts the opening scenes of Lewis Carrol’s children’s work Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, published in 1865. The work opens in a slow and sumptuous vein, suggestive of Alice idling the afternoon away in the meadows along the riverbank. The music is intentionally rich and is distinctly Disneyesque in character. The stillness is broken by the glimpse of a quivering rabbit’s tail (suggested by xylophone) and before long the chase commences, as Alice attempts to keep up with the White Rabbit. The music hops along at great speed and at times Alice is unable to see him, but the sound of his large pocket-watch keeps her in pursuit. Before she realises it, Alice plunges into the black abyss of a rabbit hole…all is dark; the adventure begins… 

Originally composed in 2023, Down The Rabbit Hole was the opening work of the Flowers Band concept programme Alice In Wonderland, which was premiered at the Brass In Concert Championships at the Glass House International Centre for Music.

Duration: 00:04:30

Grade: 5/6