Howard Skempton Catalogue

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Ensemble & Orchestra Concerto for Hurdy-Gurdy, Percussion, and Chamber Orchestra Solo hurdy-gurdy, solo percussion, and chamber orchestra Hurdy-gurdy solo, perc solo (SD, xylo, congas, guiro, mba), fl, 2 ob, 2 bn, 2 hn, timp (+guiro), str Conductor’s score and parts on hire 9780193676527 Howard Skempton composed his Hurdy-gurdy concerto in 1994 and this was the first time the Hurdy-gurdy had been used as a concerto instrument. Howard writes: ‘There were no precedents. This alarming/appealing sense of freedom was nicely counterbalanced by all the restrictions normally associated with a commission. The drone of the hurdy-gurdy may seem inhibiting but in practice it offers a challenge that fully engages the imagination’. 19 minutes Concerto for Oboe, Accordion, and Strings Solo oboe, accordion, and string orchestra Ob solo, acc solo, str Conductor’s score and parts on hire 9780193676534 The combination of oboe and accordion is a happy one, and Skempton comments that he ‘opted for a flexible variation form rather than something more combative’. 17 minutes Delicate Two cellos and percussion Score and parts on hire 9780193588400 A chamber ballet for two cellos and percussion with spoken text by A. L. Kennedy whose powerful and acutely funny text played a central role and certainly stimulated many of the musical ideas. 60 minutes Delicate Suite Two cellos and percussion Score and parts 9780193588288 This is a suite from existing ballet for two cellos and percussion. 5 minutes Eternity’s Sunrise Chamber ensemble Fl, cl in A, hp, and string quartet Score 9780193588752 Set of parts 9780193412583 Sharing its scoring with Ravel’s Introduction and Allegro, Eternity’s Sunrise makes full use of the wealth of instrumental combinations available within this septet. The haunting, yet quirky theme around which the entire piece is based is likely to linger in the memory long after the music has finished. 10 minutes Field Notes Oboe and string trio Score 9780193406117 Set of parts 9780193513778 Field Notes is a compact, one-movement piece of chamber music. The work is full of harmonic interest with chromatic and melodic passages shared equally between the parts. 12 minutes Five Miniatures Ensemble Afl/fl/picc, ob/ca, cl/Ebcl/Acl/bcl, bsn, hn, tpt (in C), tbn, perc, single str Conductor’s score and parts on hire 9780193388987 One for the Road • Yes, yes, Annette • Deeply Shaded • Berkley Street • Pendulum 10 minutes Five Nocturnes Solo guitar, two clarinets, viola, cello, and double bass Score and parts 9780193359680 Extending his repertoire for the guitar, Skempton this time introduces it into the realm of a chamber ensemble in the form of five miniatures. The mix of mellow timbres creates a soothing but thoughtful set of pieces. 10 minutes Garland Oboe, violin, viola, and cello Score and parts 9780193588677 Garland demonstrates the composer’s typically thoughtful approach to form and melodic material, the title of this work reflecting the circularity of both. 2 minutes 10
Gemini Dances Ensemble Fl (+picc), cl, vln, vc, pn, perc (SD, spoons) Conductor’s score and parts on hire 9780193588424 10 minutes Gleams and Fragments Oboe, clarinet, viola, and harp Score and parts 9780193588769 The opening movement of this five-movement work features the oboe, being a setting of a solo piece written by the composer in memory of Barbara Hepworth. The second is a lyrical canon for oboe, clarinet, and viola; the third and fourth movements are formal and chorale-like; while the last is a sprightly, rather quirky march. 8 minutes Gloss Oboe and vibraphone Score 9780193381513 Gloss could be considered a companion piece to Random Girl (also for oboe and vibraphone), although it is rhythmically more formal and melodically more restrained. 4 minutes Horizons Oboe and harp Set of parts 9780193588790 This work is a suite of six contrasting miniatures built around fragments of melodies which are repeated, each time with subtle variations. Particularly striking is the simple, folk-like melody of the fifth movement and the dissonant, almost grotesque march that precedes it. 6 minutes Hot Noon in Malabar Soprano, violin, cello, and piano Score and parts 9780193588868 Skempton sets words by Kamala Das, who was born in Malabar in 1934 and is one of India’s most distinguished poets. The setting evokes the suppleness and richness of Indian music. 3 minutes Into my heart an air that kills Voice and piano quintet Pn, 2 vln, vla, vc Score and parts on hire 9780193588356 Into my heart an air that kills was commissioned by The Housman Society to celebrate the centenary of The Shropshire Lad. The instrumentation is the same as that of the Vaughan Williams cycle, On Wenlock Edge. 4 minutes La gora di mulino Piano quartet Vln, vla, cello, pno Score and parts 9780193588493 La gora di mulino was commissioned for Chamber Music 2000. The Chamber Music 2000 works were designed to be technically easy, but still retain the composers own individuality and musical style. La gora di mulino means ‘the mill-pond’ and the mood of the piece is appropriately ruminative. The middle string part may be played by a second violin or a viola. 2 minutes Lento Orchestra 3 fl, 3 ob, ca, 3 cl, 3 bn, cbn, 4 hn, 3 tpt, 3 tbn, tba, timp, str Full score 9780193676503 Conductor’s score and parts on hire 9780193676510 Lento is monolithic; major and minor triads generate a sequence of processionals. The tempo is more or less constant. It uses the same orchestral forces as Wagner’s prelude to Parsifal, though deployment is radically different. Most of Lento is scored for strings only. A central episode turns the spotlight on the trombones and the bassoons. Otherwise, woodwind, brass, and timpani serve primarily to lend weight to restatements of the two principal subjects. 13 minutes Lido Recorder ensemble 2 descant, 2 treble, 2 tenor, bass, great bass and contrabass recorders Score 9780193381544 Written for the Birmingham Schools’ Recorder Sinfonia, this engaging work is suitable for amateur performers. The mixed compound time signatures introduce some learning opportunities, while the melodic lines remain accessible. The contrabass recorder part is optional, making this a versatile work. All players read from the performing score, so a number of copies would be needed for performance. 3 minutes Ensemble & Orchestra 11
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Howard Skempton Catalogue

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