Tigida Pipa was composed in Ghent, Belgium, and completed in London in January, 1983, but
revised several times until 1989. The text consists of invented words and percussive sounds whose inherent
rhythmic structure propels the work at breakneck speed through a rondo of sonic adventures. It was described by
The Financial Times (London) as "...a tongue-twisting, tempo-twisting vocal toccata brilliantly sustained" and by
Opera magazine as "...a virtuoso ritual for percussionists-cum-vocalists, ebullient and inventive far beyond the
Steven Reich school of minimalism." The work was inspired by some of the invented text compositions of Frank
Denyer and written for the London virtuoso vocal ensemble Singcircle (director, Gregory Rose). The original tape
was realized at IPEM/Belgian Radio Studios, Ghent, in the Autumn of 1982 and winter of 1983. The 1989 revision
was realized in the composer's studio in London.  

The work was commissioned by Elms Concerts for Singcircle with funds provided by the Arts Council of Great
Britain. The first performance was February 19, 1983, at London's Rosslyn Hill Chapel (Hampstead) with
Singcircle (Gregory Rose cond.). Tigida Pipa is on a Continuum (New Zealand) compact disc: Stephen Montague
- Orchestral and Chamber Music (Continuum CCD 1061), 1994.