East Coast Pictures. - Nigel Hess

East Coast Pictures, originally written for wind band, have now been transcribed by Phillip Littlemore, introducing these exciting programmatic pieces to a wider audience. These three short 'pictures' wereinspired by several visits by the composer to a small part of the USA's East Coast, an area that provides great extremes in the geography and the people. Shelter Island is a small island situated almost at the end of LongIsland, a few hours' drive east of New York. In the summer it becomes a crowded tourist trap, but in the winter it is gloriously deserted, and bravely faces the onslaught of the turbulent Atlantic, shrouded in sea mistsanddriving rain. In upstate New York lie the Catskill Mountains, an extraordinary combination of tranquillity and power, peace and majesty. Once seen they call you back again and again. New York ...or, to be precise, Manhattan.For anyone who is familiar with this bizarre and wonderful city, this 'picture' needs no explanation. For those not yet hooked, here is a foretaste of things to come.