ANN McLAREN HODGSON

         Hexagon Music Centre Beverley

'Short Ride In A Fast Machine' and 'Finlandia' were commissioned by the East Riding Schools' Music Service to celebrate the opening of the Hexagon Music Centre in October 2010. The official unveiling by the Chairman of East Riding of Yorkshire Council Councillor David Rudd took place on the 9th May 2011

'Short Ride In A Fast Machine' - my interpretation of 'Short Ride In A Fast Machine' by John Adams, a piece which was written in 1986 for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra to celebrate the opening of the Great Woods Summer Festival in Mansfield, Massachusetts. The piece is an unstoppable manic fanfare. The colours in the painting are taken from those used in the decoration of the Hexagon Music Centre. 

 (C) Ann McLaren Hodgson

'Finlandia' - my interpretation of 'Finlandia' by Sibelius, Sibelius's most famous piece. A grand orchestral tone poem, protesting against the Russian Empire's stranglehold of Finland. The work is powerfully nationalistic, illustrating with dramatic and stormy music Finland's struggle. The painting depicts Finland's journey from Russian occupation to independence gained in 1917. Colours of the Russian flag are predominant in the left panel, six large gold circles signify the dominance of Russia and eight small gold hexagons represent the repressed Finns. The second panel depicts the uprising of the Finns and their fight for independence. The third panel portrays the calm of the hymn theme and the final panel, which incorporates the colours of the Finnish state flag and six large gold hexagons, symbolises freedom and Finland's independence. The cross that overlays the entire painting represents the state flag of Finland.

 (C) Ann McLaren Hodgson 2020