Hepplewhite, Russell: True Story
£4.25
Words by Michael Rosen
SATB and piano
Duration: 4’45”
Do you know
my son Joe
was born on a hot day?
Russell Hepplewhite’s whimsical, capering score perfectly matches Michael Rosen’s humorous tale of an obstetrician who becomes distracted at the birth of the poet’s son by a baby pigeon hatching outside the hospital’s window! Wit and warmth abound in Rosen’s informal signature style, while the music has an irresistible swing and theatrical flair. Equally suitable on a main programme or as an encore treat, True Story is an instant contemporary classic, serving to brighten any choir’s repertory.
True Story is one of ten new poems commissioned and set to music by Russell Hepplewhite in his landmark choral anthology Living Voices, published by Stainer & Bell. The commission was funded by Debbie Reddy. See here for more information on the other pieces in the collection.
First performed on 21 June 2025 by Epsom Choral Society, conducted by Julian Collings
Michael Rosen was born in north-west London, and was brought up there. His parents were teachers, though they both went to teach at universities, training teachers. Michael studied English Literature and Language at university, and soon found his way into writing poems, stories and plays. He also learned how to perform poems – especially his own! He now divides his time between writing, performing, doing radio broadcasts and teaching at Goldsmiths, University of London.
