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I Got Them Chipping Norton Blues (Dsolo, DTrTrTTBGtBCtB)
MHE 80303 £3.50
A larger-group arrangement of 'Sleazy Blues' from 'Three Recorder Blues' (MHE 90303), which is listed on the 'Five Recorders' page.
In Memoriam: Dennis Bamforth (SnoDDTrTrTTBBGtBCtB)
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.
The Night (DTrTrTBBBorGtBGtBorCtB)
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; see the next piece (MHE 30303a).
The Night (DTrTrTBBBorGtBGtBorCtB + SATB choir)
MHE 30303a £5.50
See the previous piece (MHE 30303).
The Lone Ar-Ranger (Philip Buttall) (GarSnoDDTrTrTTBBGtBCtB)
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!
My Lady Carey's Dompe (SnoDDTrTrTTBBGtBCtB)
MHE 40108 £4.50
This short piece, by that most prolific composer Anon, is included in the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book, which comprises early 17th century English keyboard pieces. This easy arrangement for recorder orchestra emphasises the bare, hypnotic feel of the music.
Scarborough Fair (SnoDDTrTrTTBBGtBCtB)
MHE 10108 £4.50
I have been involved for some time with a project to bring the pleasures of the recorder orchestra to players who are technically not very strong. There is little music suitable for such groups, and this easy arrangement of the very well-known tune Scarborough Fair is one attempt at starting to fill that gap. It's only because my arrangement is aimed at a completely different set of players that I would dare to work on the same tune as used by Paul Clark in his famous set of variations!
Die Windmühle (The Windmill) (DTrTrTTBGtBCtB)
MHE 10610 £6.00
I attended a concert by the German recorder orchestra 'Recorders Galore', conducted by Sally Turner. Apart from anything else I was impressed by the effortless ease with which they changed tempo mid-piece, and so I wrote
Die Windmühle to take advantage of this skill. I had in mind a windmill sitting on top of a hill, with the breeze changing abruptly from gentle to strong.
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.
The Charlbury Reel (SnoDDTrTrTTBBGtBCtB)
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), and is listed on the 'Five Recorders' page.
Rhapsody for Bassoon and Recorder Orchestra (Bsn SnoDDTrTrTTBBGtBCtB)
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.
A Short History Of The Ruishton Martyr (SnoDTrTBBGtBCtB)
MHE 90608 £6.50
John Wall (1620-1679) was a priest during the Reformation, when it was illegal to say Mass in Britain. This piece, written for a playing day in Ruishton (near Taunton), is a dramatic musical representation of his life, capture and execution – and all in 5 minutes! The notes are no more than moderately difficult, although the music is in places very atmospheric, and in other places rhythmic and exciting, so some work may be needed to turn on a musical sixpence.
Variations on À Chantar (SnoDDTrTrTTBBGtBCtB)
MHE 20108 £7.00
I have been involved for some time with a project to bring the pleasures of the recorder orchestra to players who are technically not very strong. There is little music suitable for such groups, and this easy arrangement of a 14th Century French tune is one attempt at starting to fill that gap. This 5 minute piece makes no great attempt at authenticity, but freely uses some elements of the period - bare harmonies and occasional violent clashes - hopefully to dramatic effect. There is also a version for sextet (MHE 20108a), which is listed on the 'Six Recorders' page.
May Hill Rhapsody (D solo, TrTrTTBGtBCtB)
MHE 10310 £7.50
This pastoral piece contrasts a fairly difficult descant solo with an easy orchestral accompaniment. Once a suitable soloist is found, the piece can be pulled together quickly with a group of only modest technical ability. The May Hill Rhapsody also exists in a version (MHE10310a) for treble soloist with DDTrTrTB; this is listed on the 'Six Recorders' page. Total playing time is about 6 minutes.
It's All Yours (SnoDTrTrTTBBGtBCtB)
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 (MHE 20307).
Calm Is The Morn Without A Sound (choir, DTrTTBGtBorBCtB)
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. For a recorders-only version, see the next piece (MHE 10906a).
Calm Is The Morn Without A Sound (DTrTTBGtBorBCtB)
MHE 10906a £5.50
See the previous piece (MHE 10906).
Little Suite (Tr, cello solos, DTrTrTTBGtBCtB)
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. For a recorders-only version, see the next piece (MHE 21006a).
Little Suite (Tr,T solos, DTrTrTTBGtBCtB)
MHE 21006a £7.50
See the previous piece (MHE 21006). The version for recorders-only works well - it is much more than a mere substitution of a tenor recorder for a cello.
Fantasy for Recorder Orchestra (SnoDDTrTrTTBBGtBCtB)
MHE 20609 £7.50
There are several thriving U3A recorder ensembles in Canberra, and I wrote this piece for the largest of them – the Canberra U3A recorder orchestra - and for their conductor Margaret Wright. As with most pieces with 'Fantasy' in the title, this one uses just a few musical ideas which are combined in various ways as the piece progresses. This 5 minute piece is of no more than moderate difficulty.
Un Petit Digestif (Sno, D solos, SnoDDTrTrTTBBGtBCtB)
MHE 40508 £8.00
This piece was written as an encore for a joint concert in Germany by the Scottish Recorder Orchestra and the Dortmund Recorder Consort. The circumstance of the composition was a bit unusual. I received an email from Eileen Silcocks Friday lunchtime, and if I decided to write a piece it had to be with them the next morning to start rehearsal, in time for the concert on Sunday afternoon. I emailed the score and parts over late on Friday night, and I believe the concert and the piece went well. Naturally I'd prefer it if this short fun piece is seen as a useful encore for recorder orchestras, rather than as a bizarre party trick! Not difficult, although the soloists will need to be good.
The Wind In The Pine Tree (SnoDDTrTrTTBBGtBCtB + narrator)
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 for recorder orchestra and koto; see the next piece (MHE 40204b).
The Wind In The Pine Tree (koto, SnoDDTrTrTTBBGtBCtB + narrator)
MHE 40204b £12.00
See the previous piece (MHE 40204). This version contains more music, and has an important part for the koto (a Japanese stringed instrument). In the likely event of a koto (and player) not being available, a synthesiser could be used.
Wedding Day at Troldhaugen (SnoDDTrTrTTBBGtBCtB)
MHE 60808 £8.00
Grieg's wonderfully tuneful piece started life as a piano solo, although he later orchestrated it. It works very well for a standard recorder orchestra, although the precise rhythms of a chamber recorder orchestra may suit it even better. This 6 minute piece is certain to be an audience-pleaser, but it is quite difficult in places, especially two mercifully brief sections which explore Eb minor.
Wired For Sound (SnoDDTrTrTTBBGtBCtB)
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.
Bite-Sized Blues (SnoDDTrTrTTBBGtBCtB)
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.
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 there is almost no 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.
St Louis Tickle (Theron Catlen Bennett) (SnoDDTrTrTTBBGtBCtB)
MHE 91208 £9.00
A tuneful and fun rag with a swing feel, by Theron Catlen Bennett, arranged for Jane Taussik by Steve Marshall. Of moderate difficulty only.
The Voyage Of The Matthew (DTrTrTTBGtBCtB)
MHE 20508 £9.00
This piece was written to mark the 60th anniversary of the Bristol branch of the Society of Recorder Players. In less than eight minutes it illustrates the historic journey of John Cabot and his crew aboard the Matthew, when they set sail from Bristol in May 1497 to find a route westward to Asia. The piece tries to reflect some of the fears of the men on their long journey into the unknown, although the music lightens towards the end as they sail back into Bristol with all the church bells ringing!
Four Mediaeval Tunes (SnoDTrTrTTBBGtBCtB)
MHE 20604 £9.00
La Rotta
Sumer Is Icumen In
Ja Nuns 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.
Spirits Of The Water (DTrTTBBGtBGtBGtBCtBCtBCtB)
MHE 10408 £9.00
This 5-minute piece was written at the request of Gabi Harste for the recorder orchestra Blockflötenensemble Garbsen, on their 10th anniversary. Blockflötenensemble Garbsen is not a large ensemble, but it boasts a large number of great basses and contrabasses, hence the unusual instrumentation of the piece. Spirits Of The Water tries to suggest the essence of both still and flowing waters. Of moderate difficulty only.
A Jazz Short Story (SnoDDTrTrTTBBGtBCtB)
MHE 20210 £10.00
Ann & Steve wrote this piece at the request of Dietrich Schnabel; they were happy to take up the challenge of writing a composition jointly. For the romantics among you, it may be interesting to know that the piece was finished on Valentine's day. A Jazz Short Story is a musical impression of a 7-page short story. It's never made quite clear what is happening, but the story certainly has many twists and turns, always looking back to the events on the first page – in many ways the piece is a theme-and-variations. The end seems to be a dramatic dénouement, but again one can only speculate about what happens – even about whether it's a happy ending or not! Total playing time of this moderately difficult piece is about 8 minutes.
The Long Path Home (SnoDDTrTrTTBBGtBCtB)
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.
Concertino No 1 for Sopranino Recorder (Sno solo, DTrTrTTBoptGtBoptCtB)
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 meetings 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.
Concertino No 3 for Treble Recorder (Tr solo, DTrTrTTBGtBCtB)
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 (CtB solo, SnoDTrTrTTBoptGtBoptCtB)
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.
Concertino No 5 ('Spanish') for Descant Recorder (D solo SnoDDTrTrTTBBGtBCtB)
MHE 10208 £9.50
Allegretto
Romance
March
This 8 minute piece was written for an 'Easy Recorder Orchestra Playing Day' in 2008, to give an interesting experience for less proficient players. The guest at the day was Helen Hooker, and so I came up with a piece where the solo part is tricky, but the orchestra parts are easy. The only possible problem is that the time signature changes quite often, but always with a constant crotchet beat. Given the presence of a suitable soloist, the concertino is readily playable by any SRP branch (for example), as long as the right instruments are available. Why 'Spanish'? I used to play the classical guitar, and the influences of Spanish guitar music keep bubbling up in my recorder music. I let them bubble up freely for a whole piece!
Concertino No 6 for Contrabass Recorder (No 2) (CtB solo, SnoDTrTBGtBCtB)
MHE 90810 £9.50
Allegro
Larghetto
Vivace
When, four years ago, I wrote the first Concertino for contrabass recorder (i.e. Concertino No 4), I hoped that it might get a couple of performances. In fact it has outsold all of my other concertini put together, has been performed often all over the world, and has even been recorded on a CD. Clearly there is a need for excellent contra players to show what they can do! The second contra concertino is considerably easier than the first, but still lively and – in the
second movement – really quite pretty. Once again the dialogue between soloist and ensemble is managed so that the contra is never drowned. The solo part fits all makes of contra, as there are no low F#s and, although there are three Abs, alternatives are provided.
Barthram's Dirge (choir, DTrTTBGtBorBCtB)
MHE 11007 £10.50
This is quite a dramatic setting of an ancient story of love and murder, using the same forces as Calm Is The Morn Without A Sound. Again all vocal material is doubled within the recorder group. There is a recorders-only version; see the next piece (MHE 11007a).
Barthram's Dirge (DDTrTrTTBBGtBCtB)
MHE 11007a £6.00
See the previous piece (MHE 11007).
Five Spirituals (DTrTTBGtBCtB)
MHE 40509 £11.00
Poor Wayfaring Stranger
Hebrew Children
Go Down, Moses
Great Day
Deep River
A collection of five spirituals which are available in other May Hill Edition titles with various instrumentations. They are here rearranged for seven recorders and sound good whether one-to-a-part or in a larger ensemble. The arrangements are easy, but interesting, and they are particularly suited to an ‘easy recorder orchestra’ group.
The Swan In The Evening (Dsolo, SnoDDTrTrTTBBGtBCtB)
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.
What We Did On Our Holidays (SnoDTrTrTTBBGtBorBCtB)
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. Two of the pieces are fast and a bit tricky; the others are fairly easy.
A Celtic Cluster (SnoDTrTrTTBGtBCtB)
MHE 10905a £12.00
An arrangement for recorder orchestra of the sextet version (MHE 10905), listed on the 'Six Recorders' page.
Short Journeys (SnoDDTrTrTTBBGtBCtB)
MHE 20906 £12.00
Walking Down The Steps And Over The Sands
Walking In The Woods
Birkenhead Bus Rides 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, as has been demonstrated by Grace Barton and the Wirral Recorder Orchestra. The DVD of the videos is available on request, to groups intending to perform the work. A sextet arrangement of the piece is available (MHE 20906a), listed on the 'Six Recorders' page.
Three Bagatelles (SnoDDTrTrTTBBGtBCtB)
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.
Prelude & Boogie (SnoDDTrTrTTBBGtBCtB)
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.
Symphony in D (Bühler) (SnoDDTrTrTTBBGtBCtB)
MHE 20809 £12.00
Allegro
Andante
Allegro
The German composer Franz Bühler (1760-1823) wrote many works suitable for players and singers of modest ability. Among such pieces is his Symphony in D, originally for flute, clarinet, trumpet, horns and strings. Ann Marshall found this little-known but charming work and, together with Steve, arranged it for recorder orchestra. Specifically the arrangement is suitable for an 'easy' recorder orchestra, where it is a welcome addition to the very small repertoire of larger pieces for such a group. Total playing time is about 7 minutes.
Sinfonietta No 1 (Sno/D TrTTBBGtBCtB)
MHE 10405 £13.00
Saturday Afternoon
Saturday Evening
Sunday Morning
An arrangement for (non-standard) recorder orchestra of the Summer Sextet (MHE 10704). 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.
Sinfonietta No 2, for Three Choirs (DDDTrTrTrTTTBBB)
MHE 10308 £11.00
Allegro
Andante
Scherzo
Largo
There is very little modern music for two or more choirs, and I thought that I would add to the very short list with a fairly substantial piece (it's about 11 minutes long). There are no parts for bigger basses, and I don't think the piece would benefit from adding them either. Of moderate difficulty only.
Folk Song Suite (SnoDDTrTrTTBBGtBCtB)
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. Moderately difficult in places.
Four Minimalist Studies for Recorder Orchestra (SnoDDTrTrTTBBGtBCtB)
MHE 71109 £13.00
Study No 2
Study No 3
Study No 5
Study No 8
This set comprises arrangements for standard recorder orchestra of four of my quartets 'Eight Minimalist Studies' (MHE 10607). As with the quartets, these pieces are rather easier, rather shorter, rather less repetitive and rather more tuneful than 'normal' minimalist pieces, and so I hope they will find favour with groups of recorder players!
Concerto for Two Recorders (soloists(2) SnoDDTrTrTTBBGtBCtB)
MHE 10509 £14.00
I wrote this concerto for Margaret Shearing and David Scruby. The piece has an unusual structure in that although it falls pretty clearly into three movements, the movements blend into one another, giving a single 12-minute piece of music. Not only do the soloists therefore need considerable stamina, but they also need to change instruments – treble and tenor at the start becomes tenor and great bass, and ends with descant and treble. The solo parts are difficult, but not fearsomely so, and the orchestral accompaniment is not at all difficult.
Concerto Grosso (TTBsolo, DTrTrTTB)
MHE 40905 £14.50
Prelude
Sword Dance
Blues Ostinato
Hoedown
Arietta
Waltz
I’m always keen to provide music for players who are short of repertoire. This rather unconventional (just glance at the names of the movements!) Concerto Grosso is for a solo trio together with a recorder ensemble. 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.
Overture to 'Hercules' (Handel) (Hrps SnoDDTrTrTTBBGtBCtB)
MHE 61109 £15.00
Hercules is a musical drama in three acts, composed by Handel in 1744. The overture takes the traditional form of a slow introduction, followed by a lively (and rather difficult) contrapuntal allegro. The harpsichord part may be omitted. Playing time is about 5 minutes.
Recorder Concerto No 2 (D solo, SnoDDTrTrTTBBGtBCtB)
MHE 11004 £18.00
Allegro
Largo (leads straight into the Vivace)
Vivace
Composed for Helen Hooker, who gave it its first performance 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.
Symphony No 1 (SnoDDTrTrTTBBGtBCtB)
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 (SnoDDTrTrTTBBGtBCtB)
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 (SnoDDTrTrTTBBGtBCtB)
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 that sort of music, and very well too, but it's really important to observe all of the articulations! It 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.
Symphony No 4 (SnoDDTrTrTTBBGtBCtB)
MHE 70810 £21.50
I
II
III
This symphony is written for a standard recorder orchestra. It is a very 'integrated' piece, in that there are a handful of ideas which appear in the first movement, and keep reappearing throughout all three movements. There are some sombre moments, but unsurprisingly some passages which sound suspiciously like rock music (especially in the last movement). This symphony is perhaps slightly easier to play than the first three.
Introduction & Fantasy (DTrTB solo, DDTrTrTTBBGtBCtB)
MHE 30805 £16.00
Introduction
Fantasy
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. No more than moderately difficult for players who can count confidently.
Blues Variations (SnoDDTrTrTTBBBGtBGtBGtBCtBCtBCtB optsubCtB subsubCtB)
MHE 11107 £17.00
Written for a joint performance by the Scottish Recorder Orchestra and The Dortmund Recorder Consort. This makes a very large ensemble, exceptionally well endowed with large basses, hence the somewhat bizarre instrumentation. The piece uses a small number of blues-like short themes which keep reappearing over the 10 minute duration, in different combinations, sometimes slightly modified. The overall effect is often rather complex, but the individual parts are no more than moderately difficult.
Triple Concerto (D/Sno,Tr,T solos DTrTrTTBBGtBCtB)
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.
Divers Pages from the Middle Ages (SnoDDTrTrTTBBGtBCtB)
MHE 50509 £19.50
Ductia
Motetus: Pucelete
La Rotta
Ballade: Dieus Soit En Cheste Meson
La Seconde Estampie Royale
Ja Nuns Hons Pris
Motetus: Alle Psallite Cum Luya
This collection of seven medieval pieces comprises some tunes from other May Hill Edition titles and some new ones. Everything has been rearranged for standard recorder orchestra, with the added feature that D2, Tr2, T2 and B2 are significantly easier than the ‘1’ parts. The arrangements are hence well suited to mixed ability groups, on the assumption that the sopranino player is pretty good. This is eleven minutes of varied and interesting music from a period for which very little recorder orchestra music is available.
Three Poems (Concerto for Chinese Flute) (Chnse Flute SnoDDTrTrTTBBGtBCtB)
MHE 10609 £21.00
The Mountains
The Sky
The Sea
Written for the player of the Chinese flute Liu Yung-tai, who plays a prominent part in the busy recorder scene in Taiwan. As far as both of us know, this is the first piece with such a combination of instruments. Each movement of the concerto is the soundtrack to a poem about elements of the natural world. Three Poems is written for a Chinese flute in C, but in the (likely) event of a suitable instrument and soloist being unavailable, the part fits on a treble recorder and the music works well on that instrument.
The Roaring Forties (SnoD(8)Tr(10)T(10)B(6)GtB(3)CtB(2))
MHE 30408 £22.00
I wrote The Roaring Forties for the 40th anniversary concert of the Stockport Recorder College. The Roaring Forties are the prevailing winds which whip around the southerm hemisphere at 40 degrees latitude; their danger, however, is not just that the winds are strong, but that the weather is so unpredictable. So the piece is boisterous in many places, but in other places you may be able to picture the swelling ocean and even – here and there - a patch of decent weather! Some parts are easy, and some of moderate difficulty, and when played well this is a very exciting 5 minutes of music.
Double Concerto (Tr, spinet solos, SnoDDTrTrTTBBGtBCtB)
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.
Four Mini-Adventures (GarSnoDDTrTrTTBBGtBGtBCtBCtBsubCtBsubsubCtB)
MHE 11208 £25.00
Comic Book Cover
Hall Of Mirrors
Funk In The Afternoon
The Deep
I wrote Four Mini-Adventures for Dietrich Schnabel and the Blockflötenconsort Dortmund - a large recorder orchestra, with a sizeable bass department, including subcontrabasses and a subsubcontrabass. The pieces are very colourful, and try to use the range of the orchestra to its full, even adding a garklein for good measure. They can be played as a group, or individually. Each piece could even be used as an (albeit slightly eccentric) 'encore'.
Notturno in D for four orchestras K286 (Mozart) (Sno(3)D(4)Tr(6)T(8)B(4)CtB(3))
MHE 11109 £28.00
Andante
Allegro Grazioso
Menuetto
Mozart’s K286 Notturno, written for New Year’s Day 1777, was a daring experiment. He used four small orchestras, each consisting of strings and two horns, constructing music in which each idea in the first orchestra was echoed by the second, third and fourth in turn. I think that my arrangement for 28 recorders would work well in interesting spaces, where imaginative use of separate rooms, balconies, etc would create a fascinating experience for both players and audience. The music is quite easy to play, but careful counting of rests is essential. Total playing time is about 12 minutes.
Serenade for Gemshorns and Recorder Orchestra (SSAATTBB Gemshorns, SnoDDTrTrTTBBGtBCtB)
MHE 10110 £28.00
Prelude
Nocturnal
Minuet and Trio
Finale
Every year there is a significant gemshorn presence at the Northern Recorder Course. I wrote this Serenade for the 2010 NRC, so that the National Gemshorn Orchestra could be featured with all participants in one of the course massed playing sessions. A version of the Serenade is also available (MHE 10110a) in which a recorder octet is used instead of the gemshorn ensemble.
Serenade for Recorder Octet and Recorder Orchestra (TrTrTTTTBB, SnoDDTrTrTTBBGtBCtB)
MHE 10110a £28.00
This piece is a re-arrangement of the Serenade that features eight gemshorn soloists (available as MHE10110).
Spam In Atrium (GarSno(2)D(8)Tr(8)T(8)B(8)GtB(4)CtB(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's 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.
Grabbed From Gabrieli (D solo, SnoDDTrTrTTBBGtBCtB)
MHE 70608 £40.00
Prelude: Inclina Domine
Grabbed From Gabrieli
I wrote Grabbed From Gabrieli for a massed playing session at the 2008 Northern Recorder Course. It's a huge piece, comprising a 2-minute prelude, then a single movement lasting nearly 35 minutes. Just as a bit of fun this latter section is exactly 1,000 bars long. The prelude is Gabrieli's 'Inclina Domine', which I have left unaltered, except for expanding its original 6 parts to 12, by means of doubling, mainly at 8' pitch. Then the main show begins. The piece is minimalist in approach, and a basic pulse is set up, which is unending. Over this, fragments of Inclina Domine are gradually introduced, and these fragments (together with some of my own tunes) are combined in various ways. The performance on the course went very well, and people found it an interesting, perhaps unique, experience to play and concentrate for such a long time. It is accessible to most people, as the notes themselves (other than for the soloist) are reasonably easy.