New Publications

A Suite from Handel's Water Music (DTrTBG^tBC^tB) MHE 10318 £11.00
Coro 
First Air 
Menuet 
Second Air 
Bourrée 
Handel’s Water Music needs no introduction, as one of the best-known pieces of ‘classical’ music. The piece is very well-represented in the world of recorder arrangements, except perhaps for groups of modest technical ability, who are in possession of a great bass and a contrabass. My arrangement of some of the best-loved numbers from Handel’s suite is therefore straightforward, but produces a rich sound, pleasing to players and audiences alike. Total playing time is about seven minutes.

An 'Ann publication'

The Monmouth Rag (DTrTB) MHE 10518 £4.00
This is a bright and breezy bit of ragtime, which I wrote for the centre spread of the Recorder Magazine. The piece is not particularly easy to play, because the quavers are swung, and the rhythms may be unfamiliar to some recorder players. But persevere – the Monmouth Rag always goes down well with audiences! A version that includes great bass and contrabass is available as MHE 10518a. To hear this piece, please go to the 6-part version on the page 'Ann - Six Recorders'.

An 'Ann publication'

The Monmouth Rag (DTrTBG^tBC^tB) MHE 10518a £4.50
This is a bright and breezy bit of ragtime, which I wrote for the centre spread of the Recorder Magazine. The piece is not particularly easy to play, because the quavers are swung, and the rhythms may be unfamiliar to some recorder players. But persevere – the Monmouth Rag always goes down well with audiences! A version for DTrTB only is available as MHE 10518.

Four Madrigals (DTrTB) MHE 10618 £7.00
April is in my mistress' face 
Autumn wears a golden shirt 
October Dawn 
Les Saisons 
In the 1970s and 80s I was primarily a composer of vocal music. I still enjoy writing such music, so I was delighted to be asked to write some madrigals. My starting-off point was ‘April is in my mistress’ face’ by Thomas Morley, where I reset his marvellously concise poem. Morley’s poem refers to months of the year, so I completed my set with three others poems that concern months or seasons. These poems are unpublished work by my wife Ann Marshall, a friend Caroline Clunies-Ross, and by myself. To make it easier for the madrigals to be performed by recorder ensembles, the alto part is presented as more convenient for treble recorder. Total performance time is about eight minutes.

Iam Lucis Orto Sidere (Lassus) (DDTrTrTTBBG^tBC^tB) MHE 10717 £7.00
Lassus is probably best known for his beautiful sacred compositions. This short piece, arranged by Steve Marshall, is very different – it is a drinking song! The text is a parody of an eighth-century hymn with the same title. The (translated) original begins...Now that light is risen in the heavens, Lowly of heart, our God we pray that He from harm may keep us free, in all the deeds this day shall see. Lassus transforms this into…Now that light is risen in the heavens, one must begin to drink at once; therefore we shall be well, if we have drunk well. The piece - fast and vigorous - continues in the same vein!

An 'Ann publication'

Bagatelle No 1, for tenor recorder and piano (T, piano) MHE 10718 £3.50
I wrote this rather pastoral piece so that tenor recorder players of moderate ability could explore the more unusual time signatures of 5/4 and 7/4. When I wrote the piece I had the mellow sound of a tenor in mind, but I have heard it played on the descant, and it sounded fine then as well. A suitably mellow descant recorder might be best however! Playing time is about four minutes.

An 'Ann publication'

Three Fantasias by Coprario (DDTrTB) MHE 10817 £7.50
Fantasia No 1 
Fantasia No 2 
Fantasia No 3 
Despite his Italian-looking name, Giovanni Coprario was an English composer, lutenist and viol player. His real name was John Cooper, and he italianised his name when Italian music became more fashionable in England. Coprario composed songs, as well as works for viols, such as these fantasias. Total playing time is about ten minutes.

ROSEMARY ROBINSON Avon Valley Suite (DTrTBG^tB) MHE 10818 £13.50
SOUND FILES WILL FOLLOW SOON The Avon Valley Suite adds to quite a short list of modern pieces where the lowest instrument is the lovely great bass. This ten-minute suite is dedicated to Ruth Burbidge.

Bagatelle for Clarinet and Recorder Sextet (Clnt, DTrTrTTB) MHE 10918 £7.50
SOUND FILES WILL FOLLOW SOON I was asked if I had any music for clarinet and recorder ensemble. I realised that ‘Fun Little Tunes for Harriet's Bassoon’ (MHE40808), for bassoon and recorders would work well, with some reworking, and here it is – reborn as a Bagatelle. The clarinet is capable of many moods, but this piece concentrates on the quirky and playful side of its personality. It does get a bit romantic in the slower middle section, but quirkiness is quickly restored and lasts until the very end, when the piece confidently ends in what is more than likely the 'wrong' key. Four minutes of musical fun!

An 'Ann publication'

The Ludlow Suite (DTrTB) MHE 11117 £7.00
Overture 
Lullaby 
Ostinato 
Tarantella 
Ludlow Blues 
Finale 
I wrote the Ludlow Suite for Alison Brooks and her Ludlow U3A recorder group. The suite of six short pieces is quite easy to play (especially for the descants) but I hope it’s interesting and tuneful. Total playing time is about seven minutes.

Four Canzonas by Banchieri (D(orTr)Tr(orT)TB) MHE 20118 £7.50
Fantasia Quinta 
Fantasia Quinta Decima 
Seconda Sonata, Fuga Autentica in Arie Francese 
Fantasia Decimaottava 
Adriano Banchieri was born and died in Bologna. He played an important part in development of the madrigal, but was also well-known as a composer of the light and enormously popular canzonas and canzonettas. These four canzonas, all but one lively and brisk, demonstrate the style very well. There are few melodic ideas, but they tumble over one another with exciting effect. Total playing time is about five minutes, but the pieces also succeed at a less breakneck speed!

An 'Ann publication'

Four Metrophonics (TTBG^tBC^tBC^tB) MHE 20417 £9.00
Caribbean Phonic 
Thoughtful Phonic 
Fairground Phonic 
Chirpy Phonic 
I wrote these four miniatures for METRO - Helen Hooker’s eight-foot recorder orchestra, in which the smallest instrument is a tenor and the largest is a contrabass. In fact there are so many contras in the orchestra that I was able to write for two contra parts, the bottom of which involves the mighty subcontrabass. Despite the low-pitch, my pieces include some light and cheerful moments! The total playing time is about seven minutes.

Nesciens Mater (Mouton) (TTBC^tB/BBG^tBC^tB) MHE 20718 £5.50
Jean Mouton (1459 - 1530) was a French composer. His Nesciens Mater, which was published posthumously in 1555, is a very clever piece of writing, with the higher choir playing exactly the same material as the lower choir, but two bars later, and a fifth higher. This compositional trick does not dominate proceedings however, and this is a work of great and effortless beauty. I have arranged the piece for two eight-foot choirs, although it could also be played an octave higher by DDTrB/TrTrTB. Playing time is about five minutes.

ROSEMARY ROBINSON Linden Suite (S^noDTrTrTTBBG^tBC^tBSubC^tB) MHE 21117 £23.00
Intrada 
Invocation 
Burlesque 
Aubade 
Revelry 
Linden Suite was written early in 2017 at the request of Josée Beeson, who wanted a new piece for her recorder courses in Lyme Regis. Note that there is an essential part for a sub-contrabass (contrabass in C) in this piece. This is a difficult work, which will provide an interesting challenge for any ensemble. Total playing time is about twelve minutes.

Recorder Septet No 2 (S^noDTrTBG^tBC^tB) MHE 21118 £13.50
SOUND FILES WILL FOLLOW SOON I was encouraged to write a second recorder septet by the success of the first. I think that reasons for its success included that there are still very few recorder septets in existence, and even fewer of only moderate difficulty. This piece is in five, very contrasting movements. It uses the same instrumentation as the first septet – sopranino down to contrabass – and it is equally suited to one-to-a-part playing or several-to-a-part orchestral playing. Total playing time is about nine minutes.

An 'Ann publication'

Recorder Septet No 1 (S^noDTrTBG^tBC^tB) MHE 30718 £13.00
Intrada 
Nocturne 
Seascape 
Finale 
My first recorder septet is in four movements. All movements start with musical material that is the same, apart from key and tempo, but then each movement develops along very different lines. The septet, which is of no more than moderate difficulty, works equally well played one-to-a-part, or by a several-to-a-part recorder orchestra. Total playing time is about eight minutes.

An 'Ann publication'

Seven Monmouth Miniatures (DTrTrTBG^tBC^tB) MHE 40718 £12.50
I 
II 
III 
IV 
V 
VI 
VII 
I wrote these miniatures to celebrate the 30th birthday of the U3A group based at Monmouth. I am the musical director of the recorder ensemble within Monmouth U3A, and the instrumentation reflects the recorders we regularly use. We are a large ensemble, including great bass and contrabass recorders, and those recorders are essential in these miniatures. The seven miniatures explore a variety of moods and, in a reference to the birthday, they are all exactly thirty bars long. The pieces are of no more than moderate difficulty, and work equally well played one-to-a-part, or by a several-to-a-part recorder orchestra. Total playing time is about nine minutes.