Four short movements for two Bassoons.Composer's Note.Take Two Bassoons is planned as one of a series of light-hearted works for pairs of instruments written with advice from performers who are also experienced teachers. Many of these pieces explore some specific opportunities and challenges inherent in the technique of each instrument.There are four short movements: Jaunty Tenderly Angry and Running Wild.Note from Marc Goldberg.Thea Musgrave asked to meet with me in New York to discuss a set of duets she was writing and we got together over coffee near Carnegie Hall for an indepth discussionabout the bassoon. I confess to having had momentary misgivings when asked to list things that were difficult to do on the instrument envisioning for a moment an etude of unforgiving notes difficult dynamics uncomfortable articulations clumsy cross-fingerings and the like arranged back-to-back in an endurance test to challenge the best players on their best day.What she has in fact created is delightful a charming set of pieces full of character wit colour and yes challenge perfectly suited for student and teacher alike and wonderful recital works to boot.I couldn’t be more pleased to have had some part however small in their roots and am looking forward to calling these pieces and Thea Musgrave - lifelong friends.

This is the Full Score and Parts for The Voices Of Our Ancestors by Thea Musgrave. This work is scored for a chorus with soloists (Soprano Mezzo-Soprano Tenor and Baritone) Brass Quintet and Organ. A full performance of the work lasts around 30 minutes. The text for The Voices Of Our Ancestors is drawn from 12 poems that are united in their attempt to answer the question of human existence. Inspired by these poems Musgrave composed this work which was first performed on 9th July at St Bride's church Fleet Street as part of the City of London Festival. 

Innocence and Experience takes its texts from Songs of Innocence and of Experience an illustrated collection of poems by William Blake which was first published in two volumes in 1789 and 1794. Each composer (Sally Beamish Charlotte Bray Anna Meredith Thea Musgrave) has set one song of innocence and one of experience.First performed as part of the Aldeburgh Festival on 9 June 2013 at Orford Church Suffolk by the New London Children’s Choir directed by Ronald Corp.

For Clarinet solo with wind quartet and string quartet. Score OnlyFirst performed by Michael Collins Clarinet London Winds and the Endellion String Quartet on 27th January 2011 at the Wigmore Hall London.Scoring:Solo ClarinetFluteOboeBassoonFrench Horn2 ViolinsViolaCelloDuration:circa 13 minutes'During a visit to the exhibition of Francis Bacon at the Tate Gallery in December 2008my eye fell on Figure in a Landscape 1945 which resonated in me powerfully. It is a sceneof devastation and despair and also it seemed to me of latent anger and hostility... butabove it all a serene blue sky beckons. So perhaps even in the darkest moments there is aglimmer of hope - the possibility of change.This idea became the starting point for this work - Towards the Blue - a mini concerto forclarinet who eventually becomes the leader of the group.The work starts without the clarinet and all is desolate yet fiercely argumentative discordant and uncomfortable. Suddenly the offstage clarinet is heard and the players insurprise are quietened. However when the clarinet enters and approaches with a lyricalmusical motif some of the players respond others resist. Gradually the clarinetpersuades the dissident voices to join him in a spirit of co-operation and harmony.A brief memory of the opening desolation casts a momentary shadow which is quicklydispelled by the coda marked Gioioso.'Thea Musgrave (May 13th 2010)Parts available for hire separately

Composer's NoteNarcissus wanders through the forest observing enjoying ... unselfconscious but self-absorbed.He sees as pool of water and then as he approaches notices his reflection in the water. He is intrigued and then jumps back in fright. Once more he approaches ... it is still there. Narcissus steps away from the pool to consider this phenomenon. Several times he approaches the figure is always there watching him.In the shimmering sunlight Narcissus seems to see this glorious and attractive being moving in the rippling water. He is dazzled and slowly holds out his arms. To his amazement the figure responds.In awe and wonder Narcissusapproaches closer and closer. With a sudden change of mood Narcissus dances happily and playfully ... the figure echoing him. But then Narcissus begins to question anxiously the lack of any independent response...is he being mocked? He gets more and more aggitated and finally in a fury he rushes headlong into the water to grapple with the figure. The waves surge up and Narcissus is drowned. There is a distant shimmering vision of Narcissus and his reflection. Then in the setting sun the vision disappears the forest is empty and the pool lies undisturbed.Thea Musgrave

Thea Musgrave's D.E.S. - In Celebration was composed in 2016 and is arranged for solo Cello. Duration approximately 3 minutes.

Thea Musgrave's arrangement of the Anonymous 15th century text Adam Lay YBounden is scored for Children's Voices and Piano a performance of which lasts around 2 minutes.

Thea Musgrave's Psalm 147 - The Orgelbiichlein Project for solo Organ. Commissioned by Graeme Kay Premiered by Martin Baker in the Grand Organ Festival at Westminster Cathedral on 29 November 2017.

Song Of The Burn is a 'cantata for a summer's day' written in 1954 by Thea Musgrave for SATB voices with a Piano accompaniment supplied for rehearsal. Based on a text by Maurice Lindsay.

On The Underground (or 'A Medieval Summer') is based upon texts from Poems On The Underground and was commissioned by the Ionian Singers with funds from The Holst Foundation. Written by Thea Musgrave for unaccompanied SATB chorus.

Primavera is a short virtuosic work for Flute and Coloratura Soprano. It was written in 1971 and premiered by Dorothy Dorow at her concert at the Zagreb Festival of Contemporary Music. It takes its lyrics froma poem by the Peruvian poet Amalia Elguera with whom the composer collaborated on several projects including two operas. Thea Musgrave (b. 1928) is a Scottish-American composer. Over a career spanning more than60 years she has established herself as one of the leading contemporary composers on both sides of the Atlantic.

Thea Musgrave decided to write some pieces for pairs of instruments partly for use in teaching and partly for the fun of hearing two of the same instruments performing together as they do in Mozart or Haydn Symphonies.