A commission for Changing Gear, working with National Railway Museum and University of York. Listen to Dreams of the Past performed on 16-channel ambisonics at the Rymer Auditorium, University of York, on 19 November 2025 at the Changing Gear: Railway 200 concert.
Dreams of the Past
This audio collage piece draws on the Peter Handford archive, held in the National Railway Museum collection. A film sound recordist, Handford recorded steam trains in the 1950s/60s. In this work, letters to Handford, along with his recordings, liner notes, and excerpts from notebooks resound alongside other memories. We also hear from my family of model railway builders, exploring the different ways we conjure lost times and places.
Credits: Matthew Bellwood as Peter Handford. Stone Soup performance group recorded letters from the archive alongside their memories.
Changing Gear is YSWN’s programme for emerging female and gender-diverse music creators based in Yorkshire. YSWN is a PRS Foundation Talent Development Network Partner supported by PPL. Thanks to University of York and the National Railway Museum for making the project possible.
