Circular Melody (1990)
saxophone or clarinet choir in 14 parts: 9 mins
A single-movement work exploring the unusual sonority of the saxophone (or clarinet) choir
Saxophone version: 1 sopranino, 2 sopranos, 4 altos, 4 tenors, 2 baritones, 1 bass
Clarinet version: 1 Eb, 8 Bb, 2 alto (or Bb), 2 bass, 1 contrabass (or contra-alto or bass 3)
Standard approx. ABRSM Grade 7-8
Commissioned by Colchester Institute Saxophone Choir (conductor Angela Fussell), first performed at the First British Saxophone Congress, Wakefield, 27 October 1990.
First performance of the clarinet choir version by the RCM Junior Clarinet Ensemble, conductor Charles Hine, at the Royal College of Music, 24 June 1995: recorded by the British Clarinet Ensemble, conductor Charles Hine on the CD ‘Looping the Loop’
`Worthwhile and expressive’ CASS magazine
Score and parts available from the composer
Link to performance of clarinet choir version
Extract: