Composition - - American Recorder Society
Pavan - Denise Levertov in memoriam
By Roy Sansom
 
S A T T B
 
 
My Pavan was written after I was surprised to hear of the death of one of my favorite poets, Denise Levertov.

I was attending a Christmas Eve service at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Boston. (My other half sings there and I feel at home there since I have played every Bach Cantata that has recorder parts with the orchestra and chorus there, most more than a few times, for over three decades.) The Pastor dedicated the Eucharist to Denise Levertov, who had been a parishioner there. The surprise of her death and of her having been a part of that community moved me to take communion, something I don’t normally do, being a non-believer.  Soon after I wrote the Pavan in the style of Holborne.

The piece begins with the top part slowly ascending an octave. This is reflected in the bass past a few measures later at twice the speed. Up and down scales, some over an octave are woven into the entire piece and the opening motive is repeated a couple of times in the soprano part near the end. I am especially proud of the very opening with its piquant dissonances. 
 
I hope you enjoy it!
-- Roy Sansom
 
 
Play-along files synthesized and contributed by Roy Sansom.  Accompaniments are at 8' pitch, so the top line will sound best on tenor, second line on bass, etc. if available.

Listen to all parts
No soprano - you play soprano
No alto - you play alto
No tenor 1 - you play tenor 1
No tenor 2- you play tenor 2
No bass - you play bass

Listen to all parts slower, with metronome (no repeats)
 
 
No. of Recorder Parts:
5
Difficulty:
Moderate
Occasion:
Any
Libraries:
New Music for Recorder, Play-alongs
Date Added:
12/05/2020
Style:
Neo-Renaissance/Baroque/Classical, Recorded Accompaniment