Hat Box is a celebration of the town of Stockport, home to recorder virtuoso John Turner, to whom (with guitarist Neil Smith) this piece is dedicated. Stockport was formerly the centre of the hat-manufacturing industry, and gave its name to the hymn-tune 'Stockport' written by 18th century Stockport organist John Wainwright for the carol 'Christians awake, salute the happy morn'. The eight hats depicted in this suite refer to phrases from Wainwright's famous tune.