For this Christmas here is a dramatic Fantasia for Instrumental Quartet based on the old English carol God Rest You Merry Gentlemen. It is an eclectic fusion of Classical music and 1950's Free Jazz and West Indian/Caribbean rhythms with exuberance and pulse. It is in verse-refrain form, but is very freely treated and each of the four verses is wholly unique. Every single note is written to express, and sometimes expand upon, the word of the text at that point in time. There is an irregular meter which changes every few bars using 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, 6/4, and 7/4 but always maintaining a strong pulse. It contains abrupt changes in dynamics and a rubato tempo with many markings of articulation. This is a challenging work with dynamic results.
19 page score, 4 pages each part; 35 pages total
4:45 minutes

"We'll Meet Again" was written in 1939by Ross Parker and Hughie Charles, and made famous by singer Dame Vera Lynn. Thesong is one of the most famous of the Second World War era. It later gave itsname to the 1943 musical film We'll MeetAgain, where Vera Lynn played the lead role.

During the Cold War, Lynn's recording of the songwas included in the package of music and programmes held in 20 undergroundradio stations of the BBC's Wartime Broadcasting Service (WTBS), designed toprovide public information and morale-boosting broadcasts for 100 days after anuclear attack.

In 2005, Vera Lynn sang the song in London on the60th Anniversary of VE Day in 2005, and, in 2020, a duet with Katherine Jenkinsreached number 72 on the UK Singles Chart.

Arranged during the 2019/2020 CoronavirusPandemic in memory of Dame Vera Lynn, who died on 18 June 2020. Thisarrangement for clarinet quartet includes alternative parts for clarinet ine-flat and alto clarinet. A recording of the original song can be foundhere on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsM_VmN6ytk.



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