Scherzo for Percussion

An exciting grade 5 percussion ensemble using standard instrumentation. An ideal work for school or university percussion ensembles. Incorporates multiple meter slow legato and fast scherzo playing. A great concert opener!

Gustav Mahler's symphonies tend to be scored for a large orchestra putting this wonderful music out of reach of many smaller orchestras. This arrangement whilst not simplifying the music attempts to remedy this by reducing the orchestral requirements. The original orchestration requires 3 flutes 3 oboes 3 clarinets 3 bassoons 7 horns 4 trumpets 3 trombones tuba timpani percussion and strings. Although in many of Mahler's symphonies each movement seems to be an integral part of the larger work we feel that this movement can stand alone quite happily and offers a good entry to the symphonic world of Gustav Mahler.

Sonatas - Six Pieces of Music for Large Wind Ensemble Percussion Harp and Piano by Poul Ruders (2011). Preface / Programme Note Normally when being confronted with the term ´sonata´ we tend tothink of a substantial composition for piano solo in three movements predominantly by Mozart or Beethoven. The word however derives from the Italian ´sonare´ meaning ´to play´. In the 16th. Century acomposition entitled ´sonata´ merely indicated a piece of music forinstruments as opposed to the ´cantata´ - a piece involving voices. The Italian cantare simply means´to sing´. The present suite SONATAS is a composition subtitled ´six pieces of music for large wind ensemble percussion piano and harp´. It opens with a REVEILLE a short ´wake-up call´ a fanfare opening the gate into what follows. The second movement is called PASTORALE and certainly is that a peaceful unfolding of gentlechords and sounds of a bucolic nature. Nothing dramatic happens whereas in the third movement SCHERZO the wood winds chaseeach other in a wild relay run. Then all of a sudden the mood changes and we are plunged rightinto the middle of the darkest night. In the NOCTURNE unnervingly subtitled sinistro the low rumbling chords in the trombones and prickly outburst in oboes and horns form the sinister back drop to this wordless Grand Guignol. Which merges seamlessly into PANORAMA an unfolding festive almost pageant like ´sound-scape´of dancing rhytms and jubilant scales. Slowly however the tempodrops and the former boisterous body of sound is being slowly and mercilessly ´skeletonized´ - and at the end there is nothing left. RETRAITE - 'the last post'. The day is over the sun sets. Parts are for hire: hire@ewh.dk. Orchestration: 4444/6441/timp.3perc/hp.pf

for Solo Trumpet Winds and Percussion-The word nexus is defined as a tie or link between people and events. Nexus for solo trumpet and band includes several links between composer James Curnow and educator Alfred Watkins to whom the work is dedicated. A well-known theme (particularly to Mr. Watkins' students) is drawn upon as the piece utilizes two primary musical settings. An energetic and agile scherzo appears in the beginning and again at the end and is contrasted with an expressive Ballad theme. The soloist at the premiere (and on the recording) is Christopher Watkins Alfred's son! This is a well-crafted and rewarding work for soloist and band alike. Dur: 6:00

Solo Trumpet with Piano Reduction-The word nexus is defined as a tie or link between people and events. Nexus for solo trumpet and piano includes several links between composer James Curnow and educator Alfred Watkins to whom the work is dedicated. A well-known theme (particularly to Mr. Watkins' students) is drawn upon as the piece utilizes two primary musical settings - an energetic and agile scherzo that appears in the beginning and again at the end contrasted with an expressive ballad theme. The soloist at the premiere (and on the recording) is Christopher Watkins Alfred's son. This is a well-crafted and rewarding work for soloist and band alike. Dur: 6:00 (Recorded by the University of Alabama atBirmingham Wind Symphony - Dr. Sue Samuels conductor. Christopher Watkins trumpet soloist.) Also available for trumpet with winds and percussion - HL04004300.

Piers Hellawell's A White Room for Piano Quartet.a white room was the second short piece to be commissioned by the Schubert Ensemble for Chamber Music 2000. It was written in spring of 1999 during the composition of Inside Story a double concerto for the 1999 BBC Proms. a white room complements its predecessor in that it is a hushed scherzo rather than a slow aria; the latter type was by 1999 becoming rather prevalent among Chamber Music 2000 commissions and the Schubert Ensemble suggested that I tackle the challenge of writing 'easy' fast music. It turned out to be a challenge indeed; my solution to creating rapid movement using players of unknown technique wasto employ ostinato repetition of simple fragments largely using open strings - materials of a sort that in any case feature in my wider musical language. In addition I supplemented the rhythmic drive by percussive drumming on piano and cello (also aspects typical of me).These features add up to a sound picture in which rhythmic momentum predominates over line - though a chorale fragment persistently tries to establish itself. The title a white room indicates that this piece is an uncluttered space a location in sound perhaps free of the more exotic images in Hall Of Mirrors. - Piers HellawellCommission made possible by Keith Nimmo.