Solo / Ensemble Recorder Music
Ensemble

The compositions and arrangements on this page are for between three and eleven recorder players. Initially conceived as being for one player per part, they are of course equally suitable for mass playing as long as some care is taken to balance the number of players on each part. This is music written specifically for recorder rather than adaptations from vocal or instrumental scores.

There are many fine writers far better qualified to arrange early music for recorders, so David’s focus is on musical genres that have evolved during the last 100 years or so. One of his professional skills is to compose music which evokes a specific musical style or genre. This means that when it comes to finding his own musical voice, he has a massive musical vocabulary on which he is able to draw.

Dune Tune

A piece inspired by music of the Mande people from West Africa. This simple piece was written at the suggestion of Steve Marshall. It had to be short and simple enough for inclusion in the Recorder Magazine centre spread.

4 part: descant, treble, tenor & bass

duration approx. 2 minutes.

Score & recorder parts:£3

Kalamatianoi & Syrtoi

Two of the most common types of circular folk dance found throughout the Greek Islands and mainland. Each dance is based on a three step pattern. The 7/4 meter of Kalamatianoi suggests two short and one long step. This pattern is reversed for the calypso-like 4/4 rhythm of Syrtoi.

4 part: descant, treble, tenor & bass

duration approx. 5 minutes.

Score & recorder parts:£6.50

Phrygian Fandango

The grandeur and passion of Flamenco dance are captured by the stately and hypnotic rhythm of a fandango written in the Phrygian mode. All parts sit comfortably within range and the slow tempo means that semiquavers move precisely, but at a steady pace.

4 part: descant, treble, tenor & bass

duration approx. 3 minutes.

Score & recorder parts:£5

The Rocky Road to Dublin

This boisterous traditional slip jig (in 9/8 as opposed to the 6/8 meter of an ordinary Irish jig), has lyrics which relate the adventures of a country lad whose journey southwards to Dublin ends up in Liverpool.

4 part: descant, treble, tenor & bass

duration approx. 4 minutes.

Score & recorder parts:£5.50

Waltz for a Quadruped

The most obvious rhythmical feature of a waltz is that every bar contains one more beat than each dancer has legs. This haunting and lyrical piece is no different to any other waltz in that respect.

4 part: descant, treble, tenor & bass

duration approx. 6 minutes.

Score & recorder parts:£6

Ambling

Ambling is a process of setting out on a leisurely journey with no very clear idea of one's destination, but with the intention of being delighted with whatever one finds. This journey is unmistakably through parts of rural England.

5 part: treble 1 and 2, tenor 1 and 2 & bass

duration approx. 4 minutes.

Score & recorder parts:£6.50

Only Joe King

The best remembered compositions of New Orleans cornet player Joe 'King' Oliver are CHIMES BLUES and DOCTOR JAZZ. This arrangement has optional parts for contra bass recorder and ukelele in addition to the

5 part: descant, treble, tenor, bass & great bass

duration approx. 5 minutes.

Score & recorder parts:£7.50

Jonesville Jump

Tony Dorsey was not a famous trombonist and band leader who's music was popular during the 1940s. One night he came to David Moses in a dream and dropped this big band swing tune into his head.

6 part: descant, treble, tenor 1 & 2, bass 1 & 2 (optional Great bass)

duration approx. 3 min.

Score & recorder parts:£7.50

Portative Parallels

David's use of parallel fifths and C14th cadences evokes the sound of portative organ. Although this is an entirely original piece, lovers of Early Music will feel completely at home.

6 part: treble 1 & 2, tenor 1 & 2, bass 1 & 2

duration approx. 2 min.

Score & recorder parts:£5

Twilight Garden

David uses one of his songs for children as a basis for this melodic and reflective evocation of a summer evening. The mood is calm and warm. Melodies and harmonies are soft and inviting.

6 part: treble 1 & 2, tenor 1 & 2, bass 1 & 2

duration approx. 4 min.

Score & Recorder Parts:£5.50

QuintEssentials

A stimulating, challenging and rewarding exploration of some different ways in which quintuple metre is used in Balkan music. The variety is surprising, ranging from wild and frenetic through sedate and folksy to graceful and stately.

7 part: descant, treble 1 & 2, tenor 1 & 2, bass, great bass

duration approx. 8 min.

Score & Recorder Parts:£12

Poios den exei agapesei

Lively traditional Greek folk dance in 9/8 time. Each bar is subdivided into 2 2 2 3 beats to facilitate the short short short long pattern of dance steps. Once you get the hang of the rhythm, it's very jolly and not too challenging.

8 part: sopranino, descant, treble, tenor 1 & 2, bass 1 & 2, great bass

duration approx. 3 minutes.

Score & recorder parts:£8.50

Three Gardens

Giverny (Monet's garden), Sissinghurst (created by Vita Sackville-West in Kent) and Ninfa in the province of Latina, south of Rome, provide the inspiration for these three pieces which attempt to capture the essence of these beautiful but wildly different gardens.

8 part: descant, treble 1 & 2, tenor 1 & 2, bass, great & contra bass

duration approx. 10 min.

Score & Recorder Parts:£9