A Prelude to a Gothic Story - this work was originally drafted for an American film which like so many film industry projects was never actually made! The title is taken from Hugh Walpole's story of 1795 - the first ever Gothic novel which has run to over 150 editions since it was first published. Walpole wrote of it, "I gave rein to my imagination; visions and passions choked me". The story is filled with ghosts, vaults, giants, living statues, mysterious appearances, and vilent emitions of terror, anguish and love. Could any composer resist such a scenario?