The composer writes:Pilgrim was inspired it will be no surprise to learn by reading Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress - Vaughan Williams's great opera on the subject had fascinated me from its first performance yet it was a long time before I caught up with this essential item in any well-stocked library of English classics. It made a great impression not least because of its theme of a journey of self-discovery and a rediscovery or renewal of faith. These are ideas which have a strong interest for me not in religious terms but in their application to every aspect of human life (including great journeys) and this piece reflects my response in musical terms to this concern. The tempo of the whole piece which lasts about 18 minutes is basically slow. There are two quick episodes but these act somewhat like the trio sections of a classical scherzo save that the tempo relationships are inverted (the classical trios would have been slower not quicker) and the canvas is much larger being that of a single substantial slow movement. The form of the whole is perhaps fantasia-like rather than having any relationship to classical forms such as sonata or rondo - some motifs and themes are varied as the work develops and the opening chords are of primary importance throughout the work. There has been no attempt to convey any pictorial elements deriving from Bunyan's great book. There is however one feature which upon completion of the score struck me with some force which is that almost all the thematic material is essentially striving upwards - there is a constant upward movement (sometimes over a lengthy period) throughout the work. Pilgrim was commissioned by the Luton Music Club for the Raphael Ensemble with funds provided by the Eastern Arts Board and Bedfordshire County Council and is dedicated to the Luton Music Club. The first performance was given in Luton on February 10th 1997 and followed as part of a joint scheme by performances in the same week at the Music Clubs of Bedford and Leighton Buzzard.

String Quartet Version - Parts)-The composer writes: 'The backdrop for this commission was to complement music by the great Ludwig van Beethoven. Beethoven’s scores for string quartet are cornucopias of techniques and musicality. They were certainly not meant for pure entertainment. Ending up with Beethoven’s quartet Op. 59 No. 1 as a reference for this piece I even used elements from this quartet in my own composition. Beethoven’s position as a free artist has been of great importance to all following composers. This is of equal inspiration as his music. As a free artist one has to reflect upon our own time and not be afraid of allowing reality affect our work. When I was in the middle of writingthis piece something horrible happened in my neighbourhood. A bomb exploded in Oslo and a killer shot teenagers on an island summer camp. My nation’s reputation as a peaceful country to live in was drastically and forever changed. It was hard to compose. Papers and online media were soon filled with horrible pictures from the events. The lead-coloured skies being a recurring sight. The ambiguity in the title reflects both hope and dread. Beethoven’s light shines through strong and full of life! The piece was commissioned by the Engegård Quartet in 2011 and appears the recording String Quartets vol IV: Schubert-Ratkje-Britten-Haydn. A later piece was composed for string orchestra: 'Tale of Lead and Frozen Light' (2014)'. The composer writes: 'The backdrop for this commission was to complement music by the great Ludwig van Beethoven. Beethoven’s scores for string quartet are cornucopias of techniques and musicality. They were certainly not meant for pure entertainment. Ending up with Beethoven’s quartet Op. 59 No. 1 as a reference for this piece I even used elements from this quartet in my own composition. Beethoven’s position as a free artist has been of great importance to all following composers. This is of equal inspiration as his music. As a free artist one has to reflect upon our own time and not be afraid of allowing reality affect our work. When I was in the middle of writingthis piece something horrible happened in my neighbourhood. A bomb exploded in Oslo and a killer shot teenagers on an island summer camp. My nation’s reputation as a peaceful country to live in was drastically and forever changed. It was hard to compose. Papers and online media were soon filled with horrible pictures from the events. The lead-coloured skies being a recurring sight. The ambiguity in the title reflects both hope and dread. Beethoven’s light shines through strong and full of life! The piece was commissioned by the Engegård Quartet in 2011 and appears the recording String Quartets vol IV: Schubert-Ratkje-Britten-Haydn. A later piece was composed for string orchestra: 'Tale of Lead and Frozen Light' (2014)'.

Par PHILLIPS BOB. A cute, pedagogically-based (get it?), first-year bass section feature, this piece will be fun and is sure to make your beginners sound fabulous. This piece is in first position for all players except basses. Basses shift up to C and D on the G string and only play pizzicato. Continuing Bob Phillips' tradition of bass section features, Dance of the Bowless Basses is sure to become an integral part of your standard repertoire! Correlated to Sound Innovations, Book 1, Level 5. (2:00) / Date parution : 2022-10-12/ Répertoire / Orchestre à Cordes

Rosin up the bow call out the fire department and let's go! This lively energetic piece gives students a chance to show off their newly learned C natural (on the A string) in a modal display of beginning virtuosity. Students will want to play this one again and again. (Grade 1 - Correlates with Strictly Strings Book 1 page 30) This title is available in SmartMusic.

Jingle Bells with a western flair? You bet! The parallel fourths in the first measure immediately signal the beginning of this holiday hoedown. An inventive middle section gives a select group of students (or the entire orchestra!) the opportunity to call the square dance. Exciting and entertaining on every level it’s time to Swing ol’ Santa ‘round and ‘round!

Attention thrill-seekers! Invite your orchestra and audience to step aboard the 'Millennium Cyclone' roller coaster, and take off on a wild ride! Filled with twists, turns, ups, and downs---and even a moment to catch your breath. Here's an original piece by Andrew H. Dabczynski that will delight and challenge intermediate string players. It's also a chance to introduce repeated 16th note figures and dramatically contrasting dynamics - this one is a sure 'must ride!' (3:30) / Orchestre A Cordes