Commissioned in 1994 by the Royal Air Force 'Scramble!' is a concert overture for symphonic wind band inspired by images of the RAF's airfields during the Battle of Britain immortalised for ever in such films as 'Reach for the Sky'. The pastoral opening depicts the lull before the storm: the young pilots sitting in wicker chairs outside their barracks on a sunlit morning. The peace is of course deceptive suddenly amid siren sounds there is a shout of 'Scramble!' and a rush to the waiting planes. In no time at all the squadron is airborne heading for a skirmish over the English Channel and beyond. A lyrical central section featuring a solo cornet depicts the stillness manypilots described as they flew to engage the enemy before the battle breaks out once more. For those who returned it would be only a short while before once again they would hear the familiar shout of 'Scramble!'

Jazzsteps 2 - Putting It Together follows on from Book 1 introducing one new idea at a time you'll learn how to shape phrases play over a changing chord sequence and to extend your solo's in a meaningful way. The cassette is designed to be 're-used' as new jazzsteps are introduced And there are four new 'play-along' tunes on side B for you to put your ideas into practice. Jazzsteps is ideal for individual learning or with a group in a more formal educational context. In no time at all you'll be creating your own jazz with confidence and skill.

Flexible Woodwind Ensembl-This suite of folk songs is scored for woodwind quartet and a single unpitched drum. Although the nominal scoring is for flute two clarinets and bassoon the piece has considerable inbuilt flexibility of scoring. The options for instruments on each part are as follows: Part 1: Flute oboe or soprano saxophone Part 2: Bb Clarinet or alto saxophone Part 3: Bb clarinet alto saxophone or tenor saxophone Part 4: Bassoon bass clarinet or baritone saxophoneThe piece may be played by any combination of these instruments. Where necessary some passages have been transposed down an octave in the soprano alto and tenor saxophone parts.Where this occurs the lower pitch is also included in the score. There are also a few notes in the bass clarinet part of the March which have been taken up the octave through necessity; similarly this is indicated in the score.The drum should be unsnared and of medium low pitch. A bodhran tenor drum low tom-tom or floor tom are suggested although in the end it is up to the performer!The folk songs used in the piece are not particularly well known these days. 'Gan to the Kye' is an example of the rich culture of traditional music from Northumbria. The title means 'Go to the cows' and is a love song in which the herdsman asks his lover (in a gesture possibly lacking somewhat in romance) to accompany him whilst he tends his herd of cattle.The second movement is a setting of 'Rosemary Lane' a beautiful Somerset song. It tells of a serving girl ill-used by a sailor; as so often in traditional music the beauty of the tune is quite at odds with the unpleasant circumstances related.'Gently Johnny' is a good-humoured song in which the enthusiastic suitor is teased by the object of his affections: he is asked to cool his ardour whilst at the same time being left in no doubt that his attentions may be as bold as he wishes! The middle section uses another song this time from Middlesex called 'Jack Williams'.