Composition -
Suite française
By Anthony St. Pierre 1997/2017
 
A, T, B, gtB
 
 
This suite was composed for woodwind quintet in 1997 and rescored for recorder quartet in 2017. Although the recorder version lacks the colour of the original, it offers the same timbral homogeneity as the baroque lute or harpsichord suite. The suite follows the conventional scheme of the French baroque dance suite (Prélude, Allemande, Corrente/Courante, Sarabande, Gavotte, Gigue), but unlike its prototype, it does not remain in the same key or its parallel mode (e.g. a minor/A major) throughout. Rather, the movements are related, one to the next, by thirds (C, e, C, a, F, & d). The harmonic idiom is redolent of the 20th century and may at times recall Darius Milhaud. Further notes and performance instructions may be found on the downloadable text.

The recorded performance presented here is by the Prince Consort. Duration: 13:30
-- Anthony St. Pierre
 
 
A delicious suite of dances for ATBGb, this work is absolutely worth the effort. Your group and your audience will thoroughly enjoy this music. It gets only mildly tricky with accidentals, and there is a high F in the Bass part (just once!) and the Gigue can ask for some stamina and confident fingers. The movements range from fast to slow, with beautiful introspective moments and plenty to do for the two basses. The Great Bass part is provided in bass clef only. Download this one NOW and start having fun!
-- Glen Shannon
 
 
No. of Recorder Parts:
4
Difficulty:
Challenging
Occasion:
Any
Libraries:
New Music for Recorder
Date Added:
07/20/2019
Style:
Concert, Fast/Up-tempo, Laid-back/Slow, Tonal/Melodic, Neo-Renaissance/Baroque/Classical