Some years ago I wrote a short set of movements for an Oboe Trio: the first and last were almost identical, forming a short prelude and postlude. The three movements in the middle were a slow and expressive sarabande, a lively scherzo with a rustic flavour, and an ‘air’ – a slow melody, coloured with echoes and contrapuntal imitation. The whole thing only lasted about 8 minutes – and so Little Suite seemed an appropriate title!
The music still sells a few copies today, and there have been some lovely performances of it, one of which you can hear through the link at the end of this post.
A few years later, my then publisher suggested that we make a version of it for Flute Trio or Flute Choir: Piccolo (optional), Flutes in three parts, Alto Flute (optional), Bass Flute (optional). I’m not sure whether this version was picked up by anybody, but I’ve decided to reissue it, with some changes. The Flute Trio version might sound a bit empty compared with the original, but the Flute Choir version should result in more sonority, with the extra instruments adding depth to the texture. There are links to digital performances of both versions below.
While the piece was going through my mind, revising this arrangement, it struck me that it could also work effectively arranged for three clarinets. I’ve not done that yet, but will do so in the next few days!
In summary, the five movements are:
- Entrance: A little fanfare-like motive is shared out between the instruments, sometimes inverted, with a slightly more light-hearted treatment of the same rhythm for a few bars in the middle.
- Sarabande: a piece based on the traditional sarabande rhythm, slow and expressive, building to a rich climax and subsiding again. I think I was influenced by Herbert Howells in this movement – he too was very fond of the sarabande rhythm and used it beautifully in one of the movements of his Stabat Mater which he wrote when I was studying with him.
- Scherzo: a lively conversation between the upper two instruments is interrupted by a rumbustiously rustic leaping melody: later on the two ideas are combined and finally the dance gets faster and faster as the players get more out of breath.
- Air: A rather melancholy melody, like a folk-song, is played by one instrument and echoed by the others: in the centre they all combine and finally the melody is shared contrapuntally between the players.
- Exit: this is the same as the Entrance, but with one extra bar at the end!
You can hear the different versions here, with scrolling score:
The Oboe Trio (two Oboes and Cor Anglais) version is played by the Morganwg Trio: Nick Williams and Hannah Scott (oboes) and Amanda Blows (Cor Anglais).
The Flute Trio and the Flute Choir versions are digitally created.
The Clarinet Trio version is coming soon.
This page on my website will give the links to purchase from various suppliers.