Iain Farrington

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  • Home
  • Biography
    • London 2012 Olympics
    • The Coronation 2023
  • Compositions
    • Orchestra
    • Piano
    • Organ
    • Chamber
    • Vocal & Choral
    • Brass Band
  • Arrangements
    • Symphony Orchestra
    • Chamber Orchestra
    • Chamber Music
    • Choral
    • Vocal
    • Piano/Organ
    • Musical Theatre
    • Opera
    • Jazz/Pop/Folk Songs
    • Piano reductions
    • Elgar Complete Edition
    • List of orchestral performers
  • Pianist
    • Mahler Piano Series
  • Organist
  • Art Deco Trio
  • Recordings
  • Diary
  • Contact
Picture
A Shipshape Shindig 
​for Chamber Orchestra


A Shipshape Shindig is a short series of variations on the well-known melody The Sailor’s Hornpipe. The music is witty, surprising, virtuosic and fun, with unpredictable harmonies and occasional jazz influences. Unlike the famous Henry Wood arrangement, the Hornpipe theme is played at a fast tempo throughout, with rough energy and abandon. It was commissioned by the BBC Proms for three performances in Hull.
Duration: 2 mins

Listen to a performance:

A Shipshape Shindig (2'24)

Instrumentation: piccolo, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, percussion (timpani, xylophone, tambourine, whip, snare drum, triangle), strings

First performed 22nd July 2017 by Royal Northern Sinfonia, Nicholas McGegan (conductor) at BBC Proms, Stage@The Dock, Hull.

The Times review: “…Under Nicholas McGegan, the Royal Northern Sinfonia played with irresistible spirit, and a boisterous crowd cheered everything. Nothing entertained more than the scintillating encore: Iain Farrington’s A Shipshape Shindig, an off-kilter take on The Sailor’s Hornpipe that should go straight into the Last Night of the Proms.”