Saturday 20 September 2014

New: A Garland for the Harp by David Watkins

New score published by Adlais Music Publishers, printed and distributed by Creighton's Collection

A Garland for the Harp 
Six preludes for solo harp by David Watkins

I. The Rain Forest
II. Flights
III. Bells
IV. Games
V. Laments
VI. Dances

For further information visit Adlais on line

Published retail price £8.00




This Suite of six short and contrasted preludes can be performed consecutively or separately. These pieces can also be used as useful studies of medium difficulty. The score contains separate versions for Pedal Harp and Lever Harp as well as suggestions for division to enable performance by a Harp Ensemble.

I. The Rain Forest
This prelude evokes the continuous watery mist sparkling gently under the green canopy of the Rain Forest. Written to encourage a young harpist, the filagree nature of the harp writing looks complex but is in fact very easy to play and memorise.

II. Flights
These simple fragments, when linked together, imitate the flights of birds.

III. Bells
A short essay in sonority which captures the sound of pealing bells with all their attendant overtones.

IV. Games
A playful study with contrasting rhythms.

V. Laments
An ancient mode used to conjure up timeless feelings of sadness.

VI. Dances
Fragments of rhythms lead into a middle section which develops into a 'rumba' with ongoing rhythmic contrasts.

Total playing time 7 minutes approx.

Five Impressions

New co-production publication for solo piano from Creighton's Collection

Five Impressions (for piano) by Joseph Briggs-Ritchie
New original compositions for piano 

Melody
Whimsy
In the Style of Scriabin
Winter Prelude
Three-Part Invention

Published retail price £10.00

Click here for further information




Originally from Lincolnshire but now based in Oxford, Joseph Briggs-Ritchie completed his music degree at the University of Hull where he studied composition with Professor Alastair Borthwick and piano with Irina Glushenkova, herself a former student of Russian concert pianist Mikhail Pletnev. His music is influenced by a range of composers, from Bach and Brahms to Scriabin and Philip Glass and also by the modal qualities and melodic contours of folk and world music. Aside from piano he also plays harp and accordion with his band.