Composition -
Various Variants of Purcell Airs
By Anthony St. Pierre 2007 - 2010
 
various:  Sn/S/A/T/B
 
 
St. Pierre has recast this set of airs by Henry Purcell in a modern idiom. In recital, any or all may be played in whatever order seems fitting. They range in technical challenge from easy to difficult. Most are for SAT, but sopranino and bass are called for as well.

As the basis for Britten's Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, the best known of the selections is without doubt the Rondo from 'Abdelazar." It is played on the accompanying recording by Scott Paterson (S), Janos Ungvary (A), and the composer (T).
-- Anthony St. Pierre
 
Difficulty ranges from Easy to Challenging.

The composer has recorded play-along accompaniments for each of the 10 Airs. For each, there are three versions so that you can choose to play the first, second, or third voice in the piece. Each recorded file contains all three versions; details are in the Play-along Instructions.
Play-along Instructions
Overture
Minuet
Air No. 3
Air No. 4
Rondeau The composer also has a 4-part arrangement of this piece.
Air No. 6
Air No. 8
Air No. 9
Jig
Sarabande Fancy
 
Clever arrangements of familiar music by Henry Purcell! The selection of fun and enjoyable movements are generally short, but for the longer movements, more than 3 pages of score, the composer provides separate parts. At SAT (or S’noSA), the tessitura can be kind of high, so it’s suggested to give them a try an octave lower for some tonal variety if a Great Bass (or Contrabass) is available. Technical demands vary from movement to movement; the Soprano part has some high notes that require a gentle approach and relaxed confidence, and the composer is very clear with his articulation and note-length intent, using lots of markings that should not be overlooked.
-- Glen Shannon
 
 
No. of Recorder Parts:
3
Difficulty:
Moderate
Occasion:
Any
Libraries:
New Music for Recorder, Play-alongs
Date Added:
12/31/2018
Style:
Concert, Fast/Up-tempo, Laid-back/Slow, Tonal/Melodic, Variations/Fantasies/Adaptations, Neo-Renaissance/Baroque/Classical, Recorded Accompaniment
 
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