London bus routes inspire the muse
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LONDON TRANSPORT has influenced several composers. Two bus routes, both serving Chelsea's World's End, have inspired musical works in the past year or so. Route 31 from Camden Town to Chelsea was the subject last year of a new overture by Carl Davis.
Now the celebrated route 11 from Liverpool Street to Hammersmith — the scene of no-holds-barred races between LGCC buses and Partridge's immaculate Chocolate Express Leyland double-deckers in the Twenties — has been the inspiration of an extraordinary musical and mime entertainment by Peter Maxwell Davies called simply "The No 11 Bus."
The idea came to him on a French train journey after listening to a bus conductor turned opera singer regaling other passengers with anecdotes of a West End bus route. The muse works in wonderous ways the ears and eyes to please.