The Old Chevalier (2005) - A Gothic Tale for Tenor Trombone and Ensemble. Piano reduction/Solo Trombone part: WH30940 Version for Bass Trombone: WH30942 Programme note The Old Chevalier for Trombone and Ensemble is the second of a series of seven compositions named after Karen Blixen's collection of short stories Seven Gothic Tales. My musical gothic tales are written for very different ensembles - THE SUPPER AT ELSINORE is a saxophone quartet - but they all share musical material in a criss-cross of contextual references reminiscent of Blixen's narrativecomplexity: Themes and motivsfrom one piece appears in others in new and surprising shapes and combinations. Karen Blixens The Old Chevalier begins with an old man talking to a youth about obl igation and passion. The old man tells a story about a beautiful woman who wanted tomake her husband jealous and cheated on him with a young man who admired him. Afterdiscovering the truth the young man meets a prostitute on her very first job. The girl is an innocent trading favors for shelter. The young man falls in love but she remains obliviousto his passion. She leaves after their encounter without emotional involvement. Many years later the young man - the old man telling the tale - recognizes the girl in a beautifulskull he's holding in his hand. The Old Chevalier isn't 'about' anything. The music is inspired by the artistic content of Blixen's short story - it's emotionalism dramatic construction atmosphere period and setting - but unfolds in time and musical space in ways that are completelyindependent of the story's narrative progression... except one might say that the trombone makes love to the piano and at the very end - just like the old man in the story is left contemplating its remains. The piece is written for the trombonist Jens Vind.

Piano reduction and solo Bass Trombone part for The Old Chevalier (2005) - A Gothic Tale for Bass Trombone and Ensemble. Full score: WH30942 Version for Tenor Trombone available: WH30941 Programme note The Old Chevalier for Trombone and Ensemble is the second of a series of seven compositions named after Karen Blixen's collection of short stories Seven Gothic Tales. My musical gothic tales are written for very different ensembles - THE SUPPER AT ELSINORE is a saxophone quartet - but they all share musical material in a criss-cross of contextual referencesreminiscent of Blixen's narrative complexity: Themes and motivsfrom one piece appears in others in new and surprising shapes and combinations. Karen Blixens The Old Chevalier begins with an old man talking to a youth about obl igation and passion. The old man tells a story about a beautiful woman who wanted tomake her husband jealous and cheated on him with a young man who admired him. Afterdiscovering the truth the young man meets a prostitute on her very first job. The girl is an innocent trading favors for shelter. The young man falls in love but she remains obliviousto his passion. She leaves after their encounter without emotional involvement. Many years later the young man - the old man telling the tale - recognizes the girl in a beautifulskull he's holding in his hand. The Old Chevalier isn't 'about' anything. The music is inspired by the artistic content of Blixen's short story - it's emotionalism dramatic construction atmosphere period and setting - but unfolds in time and musical space in ways that are completelyindependent of the story's narrative progression... except one might say that the trombone makes love to the piano and at the very end - just like the old man in the story is left contemplating its remains. The piece is written for the trombonist Jens

Comic sentimental political or just plain lewd the Broadside Ballads that flooded England between the time of Byrd and Purcell constitute one of the richest veins in our musical culture. These wer the pop songs of their day distributed up and down the land and they offer us a glimpse into the lives attitudes and sexual mores of ordinary people. Their subjects range from The Great Fire and The Gunpowder Plot to fumbling husbands royal gossip and the latest 'outrageous' fashions!The ballads in this volume have once more been re-attached to their original melodies - including simple chord suggestions based upon historical modes. Singers will find a treasure trove ofsome of the most delightful tunes England has ever produced. Explanatory notes place each ballad in its historical context exploring sources and the meanings of obscure words. A host of enchanting woodcuts taken from original broadsheets illustrates throughout. Also included is a performance-ready edition of The Cheaters Cheated a raucous musical entertainment - or Jigge - for a cast of four singers/actors which shares many characteristics of the broadside ballad.Forward by Andrew Motion