May Hill Edition BIGGER THAN SEXTETS Please give me a ring on 01452- 831654, or

Concertino No 1 for Sopranino Recorder (S^nosolo, DTrTrTTB optional G^tBC^tB) MHE 10805 £9.50
Allegro
Romance
Finale
This piece was written to provide a concerto for groups limited by their size and/or technical ability. It is particularly suited to branch meeting s of the Society of Recorder Players. The solo part is a bit tricky in places (but is not in virtuoso territory), while the orchestral parts are moderate only. The solo part could be played on treble if the 'orchestra' is small.

Introduction & Fantasy (DTrTBsolo, DDTrTrTTBBG^tBC^tB) MHE 30805 £16.00
Introduction
Fantasy
This piece was written for Grace Barton to use at the 2006 Northern Recorder Course at an end-of-the-day playing session, involving all course participants. There is a solo quartet, two DTrTB choirs, and a 'low choir' of great basses and contrabasses. The piece makes much use of antiphonal effects, posing as many problems for the conductor as for the players! The Introduction and the Fantasy share similar tunes, but these are treated vigorously in the first, and more reflectively in the second. The total playing time is 13 minutes. It is no more than moderately difficult for players who can count confidently.

Suite for Recorder Trio and Ensemble (TTBsolo, DTrTrTTB) MHE 40905 £14.50
Intrada
Sword Dance
Blues Ostinato
Hoedown
Arietta
Waltz
I'm always keen to provide music for players who are short of repertoire. Hence, for example, my sets for bass recorder and piano. This Suite meets the need (which I hope exists!) for a solo trio together with a recorder ensemble - a sort of Concerto Grosso instrumentation. However, the solo trio I've chosen is two tenors and a bass, which gives a rare soloing opportunity for players of those instruments who ordinarily spend their time doing sterling stuff providing support for the higher instruments. The difficulty is no more than moderate for all parts, including the soloists.

The Night (DTrTrTBBBG^tB) MHE 30303 £4.00    
This is mood music where it might be hard to find the right feel, but where the notes are easy. Also available in a version for recorders and SATB voices (MHE 30303a £5.50).

Jingle Bells (SnoDTrTrTTBBG^tBC^tB) MHE 20802 £4.50   
A fun arrangement of an old favourite. Other tunes keep appearing and there are some sudden changes of mood and texture. Moderately difficult, but a good ‘show-off’ piece!

All Creatures Of Our God And King (DDDDTrTrTrTrTTTTBBBB) MHE 60303 £6.00   
The poor man’s Spem In Alium! There are four DTrTB quartets and all parts are independent. Some problems in counting, but otherwise straightforward.

What We Did On Our Holidays (S^noDTrTrTTBBG^tBC^tB) MHE 30802 £12.00   
The Helicopter Ride
Climbing the Hill at Dawn
The Village Fête
Rowing by Moonlight
Running along the Beach
Saying Goodbye
A suite of six colourful pieces. The parts for contrabass and sopranino are important, but not difficult. Two of the pieces are fast and a bit tricky; the others are fairly easy.

The Wind In The Pine Tree (narrator and S^noDDTrTrTTBBG^tBC^tB) MHE 40204 £8.00
Introduction
Lightly, lightly his feet touched the earth
The Children
The Boat Journey
The Song
Conclusion
A beautiful traditional Japanese fairy tale, for narrator and recorder orchestra. The music has a strongly Japanese flavour, and is generally quite easy to play, although the (to our ears) unusual scales may lead to some tuning problems at first. The piece is also available (MHE 40204a £8.00) for recorder sextet (DTrTTBB) and koto; in this version the second bass part works very well on a contrabass, and the koto part could be played on a synthesiser.

The Lone Ar-Ranger (Philip Buttall) (GS^noDDTrTrTTBBG^tBC^tB) MHE 50204 £4.50   
This barnstorming tribute to Rossini by Philip Buttall, crams a host of well-known tunes into a piece which is great fun for players and audience alike. The piano original was such a success that Philip arranged it for several instrumental combinations, from saxophone quartet to full orchestra. This arrangement by Steve Marshall for recorder orchestra (including garklein) is fast, furious, and pretty difficult in places. But persevere - this is a piece which is guaranteed to send your audience home happy!

The Swan In The Evening (Dsolo, S^noDDTrTrTTBBG^tBC^tB) MHE 10803 £12.00   
A set of variations for recorder orchestra on the traditional Irish folk song She Moved Through The Fair. Some variations are as one might expect (such as ‘waltz’ and ‘canon’), but many are rather surprising (such as ‘reggae’ and ‘jazz-rock’). All parts are guaranteed a very ‘different’ recorder experience in this substantial (15 minute) piece. Moderately difficult in places, and needs a very good descant soloist.

Recorder Concerto No 1 (Tr solo, DTrTBoptG^tBoptC^tB) MHE 70303 £15.00
Allegro
Fantasy
Jig
This mildly jazzy piece can be performed with a soloist and only eight other players (there is some divisi), although the ensemble could be a lot bigger. The ensemble parts are never more than moderately hard, although unsurprisingly the solo part needs a very good player.

Symphony No 1 (S^noDDTrTrTTBBG^tBC^tB) MHE 31203 £16.00
Vivace
Larghetto
Scherzo
Finale
A four movement symphony for recorder orchestra. This is by no means the only symphony for recorder orchestra, but its often insistent rhythms and jazz feel mark it out as something different. Not particularly difficult to play, as long as players count carefully, and have the courage of their convictions! There is some beautiful music for a solo great bass in the slow movement.

Symphony No 2 (SnoDDTrTrTTBBG^tBC^tB) MHE 10605 £23.00
Allegro
Andante
Presto/Largo
A second symphony for recorder orchestra, this time in three movements. The jazz influences in this symphony are much less obvious than in the first, although strong - even violent - rhythms are again much in evidence. In its quieter moments there are many attractive tunes, often tinged with sadness. There is nothing which is particularly difficult to play in this long (23 minute) piece, provided that extra care is taken with the rhythms.

Symphony No 3 (S^noDDTrTrTTBBG^tBC^tB) MHE 20307 £23.00
Allegro Concertante
Blues
Moderato/Vivace
Presto
This symphony comes closer to jazz, blues and rock music than any other piece for recorders which I have written to date. Recorders can play like that, and very well too, but it's really important to observe all of the articulations! The symphony is dedicated to Pam Smith, with thanks for her support and for all of the talent and hard work she brings to bear on conducting my pieces.

Three Inventions for Double Choir (DTrTB/DTrTB) MHE 30207 £9.00
Invention 1
Invention 2
Invention 3
There's plenty of recorder music which has been transcribed from multichoir vocal music of yesteryear, but I know of very little (if any) modern multichoir recorder music. I didn't see why the interesting multichoir format should be restricted in this way, and these three pieces are my attempt to break the mould, or at least crack it a little. They are no more than moderately difficult.

Four Mediaeval Tunes (S^noDTrTrTTBBG^tBC^tB) MHE 20604 £9.00
La Rotta
Sumer is Icumin In
Ja Nun Hons Pris
Ductia
Four short mediaeval pieces. These are essentially melodies over a drone, but the range and dynamic variation of a recorder orchestra is exploited to produce exciting music which is quite easy to play, apart from the occasional hint of virtuosity from the higher instruments.

Bite-Sized Blues (S^noDDTrTrTTBBG^tBC^tB) MHE 10304 £8.50
Blue Funk  
The Blue Islands 
Blues for Johann 
Three varied blues - one funky, one wistful, and one big-band blues which uses a theme from Bach's 3rd Brandenburg Concerto! Written as crowd-pleasing 'stocking fillers', these make no profound musical statement, but are a bit of fun. Reasonably easy music for orchestras who are good at rhythms.

The Charlbury Reel (S^noDDTrTrTTBBG^tBC^tB) MHE 20404a £6.00   
Good humoured music that pictures country dancing beside a river, with the occasional train passing in the distance. Originally written for the unusual combination of DDTrTB, violin and cello, to play at the annual Charlbury Festival, but works equally well for recorder orchestra, where it would make a bright start to a programme. The original version is still available (MHE 20404,£5.50).

Recorder Concerto No 2 in G (D solo, S^noDDTrTrTTBBG^tBC^tB) MHE 11004 £18.00
Allegro   
Largo,    leads without a break into…
Vivace   
This piece was composed for Helen Hooker, who is scheduled to perform it at the Cheltenham Recorder Festival in July 2005. There are passages where the recorder orchestra creates exciting, driving rhythms, spurring on the soloist to ever-more virtuosic display, but then other passages of reflective, beautiful music. Although the solo part is very difficult in places, the orchestral parts should cause little difficulty for most orchestras.

Folk Song Suite (S^noDDTrTrTTBBG^tBC^tB) MHE 21104 £13.00
The Buxom Lass / Farewell, Dearest Nancy   
A Sailor's Life / She Moved Through The Fair   
The Bedmaking / The Rambling Sailor   
Three pieces, each of which combines two traditional songs from the British Isles. The arrangements are not intended to be authentic in style - they are very rhythmic, with clear influences of the 'folk-rock' movement of forty years ago. Always, however, the timeless melodies are allowed to come through, in music which is exciting yet tuneful.

Sinfonietta (S^no/D TrTTBBG^tBC^tB) MHE 10405 £12.00
Saturday Afternoon
Saturday Evening
Sunday Morning
An arrangement for (non-standard) recorder orchestra of the Summer Sextet. The piece features rather odd instrumentation: the same players double on sopranino and descant (but still have very long rests), and the trebles (one part only) don't play anything for the first two minutes (and could nearly play their whole part on a tenor). Nevertheless, this is an interesting 12 minutes of music, which explores several different moods. The difficulties are primarily musical, rather than technical. Moderately difficult in places.

The Sulgrave Suite (Rosemary Robinson) (DTrTrTTBG^tBC^tB) MHE 40405 £9.00
Intrada
Air
Scherzo
Lullaby
Dance
A suite of five miniatures which are charmingly easy on the ear. They do however give players something substantial to work on, as they require accurate tuning, and include some rhythmic difficulties - the Air, for example is graceful music, but 5 in a bar throughout .

Wired For Sound (S^noDDTrTrTTBBG^tBC^tB) MHE 50405 £8.00
A fast and furious curtain-raiser in a jazz-rock style, written for the Wirral Recorder Orchestra. The notes are not too hard, but players (and probably conductor) will be put through their rhythmic paces as they tackle music involving many triplets and quite a few quintuplets.

Sunrise To Sunset (Marg Hall) (DTrTrTTBG^tB(orB)C^tB) MHE 10505 £6.50
Busy Morning
Siesta
Evening Out
This suite of three light and tuneful pieces will be very welcome with groups which have a contrabass, but want something outside the normal orchestral repertoire. Sunrise To Sunset was the winner of the Big Bass 2005 competition, set up to encourage the writing of accessible pieces involving bigger basses.

Double Concerto for Treble Recorder and Spinet (Tr, Spinet solos, S^noDDTrTrTTBBG^tBC^tB) MHE 21105 £23.00
I
II
III
Written for the duo of Caroline Jones and Rosemary Robinson. The solo parts are tricky, but the orchestra parts are of normal recorder orchestra difficulty only. Given that the instruments used are so gentle, this concerto includes much muscular music, guaranteed to stir the sleepiest audience. The spinet could be replaced by a harpsichord, or even a piano.

In Memoriam: Dennis Bamforth (S^noDDTrTrTTBBG^tBC^tB) MHE 10106 £4.00
Written for the 2006 Northern Recorder Course, I hope that this short (4 minute) piece is an appropriate memorial to Dennis Bamforth, without whom we would not have the recorder orchestras that we have today. In a very formal way it reflects the range of a standard orchestra, as a slow-moving chromatic scale underpins the whole piece, starting on the lowest contrabass note, and finishing on the highest note of the sopranino. Along the way there are several changes of texture, typical of recorder orchestras. The music is poignant, slow moving and very chromatic - accurate tuning is difficult, but essential.

Concertino No 3 for Treble Recorder (Tr solo, DTrTrTTBG^tBC^tB) MHE 30606 £11.00
Andante & Allegro
Soliloquy
Blues
In the same way as the concertino for sopranino recorder, this piece was written to provide a concerto for groups limited by their size and/or technical ability. The solo part is tricky in places, while the orchestral parts are playable by - for example - a typical branch of the Society of Recorder Players.

Concertino No 4 for Contrabass Recorder (C^tB solo, S^noDTrTrTTBoptG^t&C^tB) MHE 40606 £12.00
Introduction & Jig
Andante
Hip-Hop
As an enthusiastic contra player myself, this was a piece that just had to be written in the end! The dialogue between soloist and ensemble is cunningly managed so that the contra remains centre-stage and audible throughout. There is some gentle music, but perhaps surprisingly many vigorous and exciting moments as well. The solo part needs some nimble playing, but is not particularly difficult. It fits on all makes of contra, as there are no low F#s or G#s.

It's All Yours (S^noDTrTrTTBBG^tBC^tB) MHE 20205 £7.50
This piece uses some of the conventions of jazz and rock music, in that basically it has a tune at either end, framing 'feature' sections for each part of the orchestra. Yes, even the great basses and contrabasses! Designed to allow each section of the orchestra to show what they can do, it is quite difficult, but makes a stirring programme opener. In a slightly changed form it comprises the first movement of the Symphony No 3.

Calm Is The Morn Without A Sound (Choir, DTrTTBGtB(orB)C^tB) MHE 10906 £7.50
This fairly easy setting of the poem by Alfred Tennyson is dedicated to Ann Lyall, who has done so much to popularise the combination of voices and recorders. The voices are soprano, mezzo, contralto and baritone; all vocal material is doubled within the recorder group. This piece is also available for DTrTTBGtB(orB)CtB recorders only (MHE 10906a, £5.50).

Short Journeys (S^noDDTrTrTTBBG^tBC^tB) MHE 20906 £12.00
Walking Down The Steps And Over The Sands
Walking In The Woods
Birkenhead Bus Ride In The Rain
Job's Steps, Eastham
Short Journeys is the result of a collaboration with the artist Judith Railton: Judith shot four short videos, and I composed music to 'fit with' them. The music, which is of no more than normal recorder orchestra difficulty, works well as a stand-alone suite, but an ideal performance would involve projecting the videos at the same time as performing the music. This needs quite some conducting skill, but is perfectly possible. The DVD of the videos is available on request, to groups intending to perform the work.

Three Bagatelles (S^noDDTrTrTTBBG^tBC^tB) MHE 30906 £12.00
Circus Procession
Return To The Blue Islands
Kites
These little pieces were written for Helen Hooker to use at the 2007 Northern Recorder Course. They are colourful musical representations of three holiday videos.

Spam In Atrium (GS^no(2)D(8)Tr(8)T(8)B(8)G^tb(4)C^tB(2)) MHE 11006 £35.00
Written for the 2007 Northern Recorder Course, to use in a session involving all course participants. A big event seemed to call for a big piece, and this one is in 41 independent parts: four choirs of DDTrTrTTBB, the 'Tinnitus Consort' (garklein and two sopraninos), and 'Ensemble Rumblissimo' (four great basses and two contras). The piece is dedicated to Justine Spence, who encouraged me to write something "Honey Nut Loopy" - I hope I managed it! Spam In Atrium is very loosely based both on Mussorgsky's Pictures At An Exhibition, and also Tallis' 40-part motet Spem In Alium, but my 'pictures' are in a variety of approachable modern styles, including rock, jazz and minimalism. The high instruments (even the garklein!) must play nicely in tune. The notes in this 22 minute piece are not difficult, but everyone needs to count very carefully.

Little Suite (Tr, Cello solos, DTrTrTTBG^tBC^tB) MHE 21006 £7.50
Little Suite was written for the musical couple Dick and Carolyn Little, a recorder player and cellist respectively. The piece takes the form of a short (7 minute) three-movement suite, with no gap between the movements. The same musical ideas appear in all movements, in different guises. The solo parts are of moderate difficulty, but the accompanying parts are reasonably straightforward. Little Suite is also available in a version (MHE 21006a £7.50) where a tenor recorder is substituted for the cello - it sounds very different, but still works well.

On Christmas Night (Rosemary Robinson) (DTrTrTTBG^tBC^tB) MHE 51206 £9.00
A medley of Christmas songs, some very well-known (such as Deck The Halls), and some less so (such as Merrily To Bethlehem). A pleasing and elegant arrangement, which is a welcome addition to the modest amount of Christmas music for recorder orchestra.

A Celtic Cluster (S^noDTrTrTTBG^tBC^tB) MHE 10905a £12.00
An arrangement for recorder orchestra of the set described under 'sextets'.
The Road To Lisdoonvarna
The Harvest Home
The Star Of The County Down
Old John's Jig

Prelude & Boogie (S^noDDTrTrTTBBG^tBC^tB) MHE 10707 £12.00
Prelude
Boogie
This piece was written for the chamber recorder orchestra on the 2008 Northern Recorder Course. It is tricky in places and calls for precise rhythmic playing. In principle it will also work well with a normal recorder orchestra, but much rehearsal may be needed! Total playing time is about 6 minutes.

Rhapsody for Bassoon and Recorder Orchestra (Bsn S^noDDTrTrTTBBG^tBC^tB) MHE 10907 £6.00
I wrote this 6 minute rhapsody for the bassoonist Harriet Oliver and the Thames Valley Recorder Orchestra. It is scored such that the bassoon is still prominent against a regular recorder orchestra, but the piece also works well using a one-to-a-part chamber recorder orchestra. The orchestral parts are reasonably straightforward, but the bassoonist needs to be pretty good.

Triple Concerto (S/S^no,Tr,T solos DTrTrTTBBG^tBC^tB) MHE 20907 £17.50
1
2
3
Written for the trio Polyphonica, for a first performance at the 2008 Cheltenham Recorder Festival. The solo parts are difficult in places, while keeping just this side of virtuosic. The orchestral material is moderately difficult. The concerto is scored such that a regular recorder orchestra can be used without obscuring the soloists, but a chamber recorder orchestra would also work well. Playing time is about 16 minutes.

The Long Path Home (S^noDDTrTrTTBBG^tBC^tB) MHE 10807 £10.50
Eileen Silcocks asked me to write something minimalist for a recorder orchestra, and I took my cue from the poem 'Treading The Cotswold Way' by Judy Kendall, about having walked too far, and now facing 'the long path home'. That trudging idea suggested the minimalist pulsing feel which permeates the piece. The notes or (for once) the rhythms are not at all difficult, but getting the right feel may be.