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MARG HALL Sunrise To Sunset (DTrTrTTBGtBorBCtB)
MHE 10505 £6.50
Busy Morning 
Siesta
Evening Out
This suite of three light and tuneful pieces from Marg Hall 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.
JOHN HAWKES Recorder Quartet No 4 (DTrTB)
MHE 41206 £7.00
Allegro
Adagio
Allegro Giocoso
Variants
This quartet by John Hawkes is rhythmic and harmonically adventurous, but no more than moderately difficult. John conducted this quartet at the 2006 Cheltenham Recorder Festival, and a good performance was secured once all of the Gbs were mastered!
JOHN HAWKES Miniature Suite (TrTTB)
MHE 40805 £8.00
Lento
Allegretto
Andantino
Allegro
Andante
Allegro
The Miniature Suite displays the usual rhythmic vitality and at times pungent harmony of John Hawkes' writing. The six short and varied pieces in this group have already been played quite widely, although this is the first time that they have been published. They are not difficult, although some of the rhythms may need some work. For details of other compositions by John Hawkes, visit his website at www.johnhawkes.co.uk.
ROSEMARY ROBINSON Sulgrave Suite (DTrTrTTBGtBCtB)
MHE 40405 £9.00
Intrada
Air
Scherzo
Lullaby
Dance
A suite of five miniatures by Rosemary Robinson 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.
ROSEMARY ROBINSON Ambion Hill (SnoDDTrTrTTBBGtBCtB)
MHE 10109 £14.00
Flourish
Invocation
Tambourin
Ambion Hill, in Leicestershire, is where the Battle of Bosworth Field is traditionally supposed to have been fought. Although the suite is not intended as a programmatic account of the battle, the ideas for it were formed during a blustery walk there. The suite is of moderate difficulty only, and total playing time is about 10 minutes.
ROSEMARY ROBINSON Fantasy Suite (SnoDDTrTrTTBBGtBCtB)
MHE 60108 £14.00
Fanfare
Willow Song
Scherzo
Nocturne
Jig
This 11 minute suite was composed by Rosemary Robinson for Justine Spence and the 2008 Northern Recorder Course, specifically for the course's chamber recorder orchestra. Complex and rich music, which will pose a challenge, even to a very good group of players.
DIETRICH SCHNABEL Symphony No 1 in D minor (SnoDDTrTrTTBBBGtBGtBCtBCtB)
MHE 11008 £27.00
Adagio-Allegro
Andante
Scherzo
Finale
This Symphony leans strongly towards the Classical/Romantic style. There are melodious themes, and rhythmic, dance-like motifs, which are typical of the recorder. There are also, however, broad and monumental sound layers. These are much less typical, and represent something new in the world of the recorder orchestra, especially as they require an unusually large ensemble to provide the necessary weight. The notes are not difficult to play, and so can be tackled by any recorder orchestra with the required instruments, but it does need considerable stamina in order to maintain focus throughout the piece's 35 minute span.