Homage To Charlie
A piano dedication composed & performed by Martin Tilbrook Gardener
Homage to Charlie is my handshake across the years with Charles Chaplin to say
"Thank you Charlie for cheering us all up"
As you listen to the music let the cameras of your imagination start rolling...
Homage to Charlie dates back to 2002. I was having a particularly damp time in North Cornwall and on a drizzlerable afternoon found myself in Bude. Ducking for shelter in an ancient Video Emporium, I discovered to my great delight a shelf of Charlie Chaplin films; some I hadn't seen for years, others I'd never seen at all. Promptly buying the lot, I rushed home to a cosy fire-side and was soon roaring with laughter as The Little Tramp came flickering to life, giving the world a mighty kick up the back-side with those size 14 boots.
Since then, I've come to a deeper appreciation of Charlie, for there always seems to be something new to discover in his films, even those I've watched many times. To enjoy Charlie's films is certainly a good way to get to know him, and it was from the wonderful feeling of being on the set amongst all those familiar faces that the muse came and inspired me to compose pieces evocative of the many moods and scenes in The Little Tramp's Silent Pantomime.
Martin Tilbrook Gardener
01 Homage to Charlie
02 Jacob Potts, Purveyor of High Class Rag & Bone
03 Jitney Rag
04 Charlie's Tango (with Steve Bingham - violin)
05 Lark in the Park
06 Hon Dooty
07 Enter the Villain
08 Outwitting the Police
09 Cheeky Charlie
10 The Chase
11 Tearful Tale
12 Dancing Girls (with Steve Bingham - violin)
13 Dusty Boots
14 Anouncing Sir Cecil Seltzer (with Steve Bingham - violin)
15 Road to Success
16 Gas Street
17 Biff on the Boko
18 Ride on a Charabang
19 Southend Pier
20 Monsieur Hammerclavier
21 Custard Pies
22 Inebriates All
23 Hymn of the Lonely Doorstep
24 The Haughty Culturist
25 Stanislaw
26 Razzmatazz &c.
A Final Note From Martin
"I would like to thank the Chaplin family for their continued interest in my work, especially the support and encouragement from Michael Chaplin who invited us to the Manoir de Ban and listened with pleasure when I played a selection of pieces from Homage to Charlie on his father's Steinway Grand. This album is dedicated to Michael in memory of that happy day
I also particularly thank Josephine Chaplin, her son Charly, Kate Guyonvarch, the Director of Association Chaplin and her assistant, Claire Byrski. The friendship and support given by all at Association Chaplin is greatly appreciated. Biff on the Boko was written especially for Josephine to portray her favourite scene from 'A Dog's Life, where Charlie cheekily knocks out a thief in the Green Lantern bar and manipulates him as if he were a puppet to deal with the thief's villainous partner...
Thanks also to Ambie Desoutter, Manager of The Menuhin Hall for the warn welcome and superb facilities for my latest batch of recordings, produced an engineered with great skill by Simon Weir, Director of The Classical Recordin Company in London and his highly dedicated team Morgan Roberts and Be Punter. I am indebted to you all.
I also give my sincere thanks to the Steinway dealers, Coach House Pianos in Swansea; their practical support and advice over the years continues to hearten and encourage me.
Finally, to my Producer, Sheila Drozda - without you, none of this would have happened"
Martin Tilbrook Gardener
David Boland