Solo / Ensemble Recorder Music
Recorder Orchestra

The compositions and arrangements on this page are usually in eleven parts :

sopranino : descant 1 & 2 : treble 1 & 2 : tenor 1 & 2 : bass 1 & 2 : great bass : contra bass. The spread of interest throughout the world in this musical unit is most gratifying. David’s experience as a humble foot soldier in the London Recorder Orchestra has opened his eyes to the tonal variety available through modern playing techniques and helped break down previously held preconceptions such as “recorders can’t do dynamics”. At the moment the list of ideas for new pieces is running ahead of the time available to write them.

Block Out

Big band jazz for recorder orchestra (sopranino, descant 1 & 2, treble 1 & 2, tenor 1 & 2, bass 1 & 2, great bass, contra bass) by David Moses. The rhythmic and harmonic language is that of bebop rather than the gentler swing era. duration approx. 5 minutes.

Score & Recorder Parts:£12

Glory Days & Hallelujah Nights

Let the recorder orchestra sing and shout. A celebration of the many diverse styles which get grouped together under the heading of African American Gospel Music. (sopranino, descant 1 & 2, treble 1 & 2, tenor 1 & 2, bass 1 & 2, great bass, contra bass) duration approx. 8 minutes.

Score & Recorder Parts:£14

Hubble Bubble Blues

A 12 bar blues for recorder chamber orchestra, with a loping 7 beats to the bar. Melodic references to Arabic music suggest that a dhow might have strayed onto the Mississippi. 11 parts. sopranino, descant, treble 1 & 2, tenor 1 & 2, bass 1 & 2, great bass, contra bass, sub contra bass. duration approx. 2 minutes.

Score & Recorder Parts:£7.50

Khayelitsha Sunrise

Khayelitsha is one of South Africa's fastest growing townships, home to people from different cultural backgrounds. This music reflects the tensions, vitality and hopefulness of this dynamic community. 11 parts. sopranino, descant, treble 1 & 2, tenor 1 & 2, bass 1 & 2, great bass, contra bass, sub contra bass. duration approx. 5 minutes.

Score & Recorder Parts:£12.50

String Quartet in F by Maurice Ravel

The first movement employs the full range and resources of a recorder chamber orchestra to cover Ravels four string parts. 11 parts. sopranino, descant, treble 1 & 2, tenor 1 & 2, bass 1 & 2, great bass, contra bass, sub contra bass. duration approx. 9 minutes.

Score & Recorder Parts:£15

Toot'n the Blooz

If a recorder orchestra were minded to play in a Dixieland style, it would sound like this. 11 part. sopranino, descant 1 & 2, treble 1 & 2, tenor 1 & 2, bass 1 & 2, great bass, contra bass. duration approx. 5 minutes.

Score & Recorder Parts:£10

Latin American Suite (2010)

Milonga, Songo and Samba for recorder orchestra (sopranino, descant 1 & 2, treble 1 & 2, tenor 1 & 2, bass 1 & 2, great bass, contra bass and massed feet). Passionate and highly rhythmic pieces that encapsulate musical styles associated with Argentina, Cuba and Brazil.

Score & Recorder Parts:£15

Rigs, Jigs and Reels (revised 2009)

is an arrangement in three movements of Irish traditional music for recorder orchestra (sopranino, descant 1 & 2, treble 1 & 2, tenor 1 & 2, bass 1 & 2, great bass, contra bass). Written for the first London recorder orchestra and performed more recently by the National Youth Recorder Orchestra, the piece lasts for approximately fifteen minutes with lively jigs, reels and hornpipes weaving in and out of beautiful ballads and laments.

Score & Recorder Parts: £22

Gladiolus Rag by Scott Joplin 11part

Arranged for recorder orchestra (sopranino, descant 1 & 2, treble 1 & 2, tenor 1 & 2, bass 1 & 2, great bass, contra bass) by David Moses. Joplin at his most refined and melodic. Surely one of the most attractive of all his ragtime compositions.

Score & Recorder Parts:£12

Five strong colours for Recorder Orchestra (2010)

A reworking of the 2003 suite for recorder orchestra (sopranino, descant 1 & 2, treble 1 & 2, tenor 1 & 2, bass 1 & 2, great bass, contra bass and massed feet). Lush harmonies and poignant melodies intermingle with wild and jaunty dance tunes to evoke the earlier part of the 20th century.

Score & Recorder Parts:£15

Gladiolus Rag by Scott Joplin 10 part

Rearranged in ten parts without contra bass (sopranino, descant 1 & 2, treble 1 & 2, tenor 1 & 2, bass 1 & 2, great bass) by David Moses. Joplin at his most refined and melodic. Surely one of the most attractive of all his ragtime compositions.

Score & Recorder Parts:£12