Fantasy on London's Burning (DTr)
MHE 20121 £4.50
The duo Flauto Dolce asked me to write something unusual and specific for them. They were soon to perform to a group of people who were recorder non-believers, and who had been more or less obliged to attend. Flauto Dolce thought it would be fun to start the event by going along with the popular notion that recorders were capable of little more than ‘London’s Burning’. But as the performance continued, they wanted to surprise the audience with an arrangement that became much ‘cleverer’. So that is how this short fantasy was written. Apparently their ploy worked well!
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Tales From The Cot (TrT)
MHE 71203 £4.50
Mechanical Toys
Cradle Song
The Nursery Clock
These pieces are from the soundtrack of an imaginary horror film, showing some doubtless bloody happenings involving dolls which come to life, and suchlike! Spiky and rather difficult.
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Three Everyday Experiences (TrT)
MHE 20405 £4.50
Rushing
Daydreaming
Panicking
Three pieces written to challenge a duo who specifically asked for something tricky. They are hard (especially rhythmically), and one of them finds both players playing treble and tenor simultaneously and involves many glissandi, all over a driving 7/4 rhythm. Exciting music, for those who can pull it off.
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Stories of October (Gtr TrT)
MHE 50808 £6.50
Stories of October was written for Ruth Burbidge, who plays in a guitar-and-two-recorders trio. The piece starts in mellow mood, perhaps reflecting on warm summer days. But October has its darker side, in more ways than one. The music is quite tricky in places, especially for the guitar. Total performance time is about 6 minutes.
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Trio Sonata (DT cello, piano)
MHE 30208 £11.00
Introduction & Allegro
Andantino
Finale
Margaret Shearing and David Scruby asked me to write a trio sonata for a group which regularly plays such pieces. Among other things the group was keen to have a piece which had an independent cello part. In fact everyone has an equal part in the discussion in my piece, so it could be more accurately called a quartet for two recorders, cello and piano. Still 'trio sonata' is a nicely convenient title. Quite a tricky piece.
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Flourishes and Dances (DTr, harpsichord, cello)
MHE 11212 £14.50
Jazz Dance
Torch Dance
Country Dance
Flourishes and Dances was written at the request of the Parnassian Ensemble. It comprises three dances - the first a fast bit of jazz dancing, the second a rather sultry Latin American number, and the third a somewhat manic country dance. The pieces are not dances as such, but were at least inspired by dance rhythms. Each dance starts with a short flourish, the speed of which contrasts with that of the dance that follows. All three flourishes are based on the same music, and this music also does pop up from time to time during the dances. Total playing time of this rather difficult work is about ten minutes.
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