Concerto Miniature

SKU: HL.14008396

ISBN 9780711921337. 8.5x12.0x0.533 inches.

This work was commissioned by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra to celebrate its 40th birthday. The first performance took place in June 1986 at St. Magnus' Cathedral, Kirkwall, as part of the tenth St. Magnus Festival. Written for and first performed by Isaac Stern, Davies's Violin Concerto brings together two streams in his music: symphonism and folk-fiddling. In its strongly developed substance, it asks to be measured in the company of Beethoven, Brahms and Sibelius, while there is also, particularly in the middle movement, a strong element of the Scots lament. The orchestra is generally muted in colour, though there is a dramatic role for the timpanist. There are three movements, played without a break - this is only one of many connections with the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto. Duration c. 30mins.

SKU: HL.14020990

ISBN 9780711923904. 5.5x7.5x0.283 inches.

If Davies's Cello Concerto has already evoked comparisons with Elgar's, that is perhaps an indication not only of its wealth of solo melody (there is hardly a page where the cello is not singing, or if not that, then dancing), and of its predominantly slow tempos, but also of its musical stature. This second Strathclyde concerto is a virtuoso piece for the entire ensemble, which is used almost throughout as a clutch of soloists rather than as a tutti block. The general tone is one of passionate but interior dialogue, especially in the opening Moderato and the slow movement; and though the finale is more extrovert, the work ends back in quietness and rumination.

SKU: HL.14020993

ISBN 9780711952010. 5.5x8.5x0.222 inches.

The solo group consists of a sextet of the woodwind instruments which are normally doubled with more regular members of the orchestra: these six strangers, now brought to the fore, are piccolo and alto flute, cor anglais, Eb and bass clarinets and contrabassoon. They make a motley group, diverse in colour as in register, and one of the tasks of the piece sets itself is to have them blend and cohere, both together as an ensemble and in partnership with the string orchestra (which itself is used with unusual variety and subtlety). Another evident task of the work is to provide fine solos for each member of the woodwind sextet: bright dances for the piccolo, recitatives for the alto flute, a stoical song from the contrabassoon in the extreme bass. The work is cast as a single movement, which begins in the composer's first-movement style of rapid regeneration. This is interrupted by slow interventions, including one for divided strings which gives rise to a sextuple cadenza for the soloists. Out of this comes a slow movement, or sequence of short slow movements, followed by a dancing finale with its own slow episodes. Altogether this is music of songs and dances, heavily tinged with Scottish rhythms and tonalities: one might think of a magic bagpipe, having six chanters and a drone of variegated string texture. This work for woodwind instruments and string orchestra was commissioned by the Strathclyde Regional Council and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. It is the ninth of ten concerti to be written for principal players of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. The first performance was given in February 1995 by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, conducted by the composer.

SKU: HL.14021032

ISBN 9780711985605. 5.5x7.5x0.432 inches.

This work was commissioned by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. It was first performed on 7th November 1997 at the Royal Conference Hall, Nottingham, by Kathryn Stott and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by the composer.

SKU: HH.HH018_19-MIN

ISBN 9790708024125.

With the unattributed concerto in F, this concerto is the earliest known 'double' clarinet concerto (i.e., with solo parts exclusively for a pair of clarinets of similar type and range), and among the earliest concertos to feature the instrument in any capacity.

SKU: HH.HH008-MIN

ISBN 9790708024385.

This double concerto displays Valentini's originality in development of musical form and thematic material. The ritornello from the second movement Allegro is appended to the final Presto giving the concerto a satisfying completeness. An important addition to the repertoire of violin double concertos.

SKU: HL.48182704

UPC: 888680868055. 7.0x11.0x0.19 inches.

Casanova Concerto Trumpet & String Orchestra Miniature Score.

SKU: HL.48187636

This is the miniature study score of his Concerto for Piano No.23 in A major KV488, one of Mozart's most popular and successful concertos, not least for the wistful but loaded mood and sublime melody. Completesd in 1946 and likely performed in Vienna shortly after, it is calm and then vivacious and see Mozart again impressing his mastery of orchestration and compostion..

SKU: HH.HH029-MIN

ISBN 9790708024750.

This fine concerto shares its motto with Tomaso Albinoni's oboe concerto in G minor Op. 9 No. 8, published in 1722, and with Antonio Vivaldi's violin concerto in G minor, RV 317, published in 1729 as Op. 12 No. 1. It is very likely that Zani deliberately borrowed the beautiful motto as a homage to the famous masters; and the same motive recurs in the third movement in a subtle variant.

SKU: HH.HH016-MIN

ISBN 9790708024323.

Over the beautiful second movement Tartini wrote I know you have no mercy using his secret code With the outer movements this concerto is a first class representative of the 18th century concerto. Carefully edited from Tartini's autograph and checked against the only other known source.

SKU: HH.HH010-MIN

ISBN 9790708024293.

Writ ten by Tartini as a young man, this concerto offers the soloist rewarding opportunities to dazzle. In the initial Allegro, polyphonic writing alternates with virtuouso sections full of runs and double stops. After a brief cadenza, an island of calm is created by the short Largo for violin and cello solo. The final Allegro plays enchantingly with the sicilian dance rhythm, and after a final solo cadenza this charming concerto comes to a close.

SKU: HH.HH014-MIN

ISBN 9790708024507.

A wonderful concerto in the galant manner.

SKU: HH.HH024-MIN

ISBN 9790708024446.

Inve ntive juxtaposition of wind and strings showing only a minimal use of solo tutti contrast and the traditional Roman concerto grosso disposition of forces on which the composer's earlier instrumental works had relied.