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Tom composes music for dressage horses
A FORMER Stonyhurst College student has launched a new business venture inspired by a famous equestrian.
Tom Hunt set up "Music 4 Dressage" earlier this year and is believed to be the only UK composer producing original music for freestyle dressage. He has created musical programmes for well-known Lancashire-based dressage competitor Sarah Turner and is now working with international Grand Prix rider Michael Eilberg.
It was after seeing black stallion Moorland Totilas compete at Hickstead last year that 23-year-old Tom was inspired to start creating original music specifically for freestyle dressage: "It made me realise the years of dedication and training that every rider commits to this sport deserves the highest quality music production to achieve the best possible performance," said Tom, who studied composition at Leeds College of Music.
Now working from his recording studio near Gisburn, Tom produces original music perfectly synchronized to suit a rider's individual requirements.
He said: "I don't think there's another composer in the UK writing original music scores for dressage riders. Until now riders have had to adapt existing music but it can be extremely difficult to find music that fits the dressage programme a rider wants to perform – or one that fits the horse's capabilities.
"In the beginning I was intrigued by the possibilities of the 'freestyle' and concept of telling a story by unifying the discipline of dressage with the appropriate musical accompaniment. This is something I now feel passionate about."
In the Prix Saint Georges freestyle winter regionals Sarah Turner performed to Tom's original composition "Victor Ludorum" and he also composed a piece "Spanish Steps" for another horse ridden by Sarah.
Tom is now working with Michael Eilberg at his base in Worcestershire and is composing an original piece of music for major competitions later in the year. His work with the Eilberg family is also the subject of a series of videos being filmed by the equestrian website www.HorseHero.com.
"Producing the film will enable other riders to see how much difference original music can make to a dressage performance that may have taken years for the rider to perfect," said Tom.
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Weather for Clitheroe
Sunday 05 February 2012
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