SKU: P2.60051

Methods of Cooking originated as a piece for brass septet that was later arranged for the brass quintet format. It is a multimovement work that explores several variations of a main theme that is found throughout all four movements. Each movement seeks to evoke a certain style associated with a type of cooking. The first movement, Simmer , introduces the main thematic material of the piece from the beginning. Simmering indicates a temperature below boiling that generally is softer or gentler in food preparation. Hence, the movement is a bit more restrained, without breaking up the material a great deal. Boil follow as the second movement, and as the temperature rises, so too does the pace of the music! Boiling can sometimes lead to chaotic situations in the kitchen, and the movement looks to capture the energy of both the food as it boils, as well as the preparer as they make their way around the kitchen. This variation brings the thematic material into 6/8 time, as well as introducing new ideas that help make the music even more dynamic. The third movement slows things back down with Braise , which tends to be a longer method of cooking. The thematic material is surrounded with thicker harmonies and slowly announced throughout the movementI! this mimics the richness of flavor often associated with braising foods, and signifies the amount of time this process often takes to complete. Sautee is the final movement and looks to stay true to its original meaning in French, to jump or bounce. The melody quickly bounces back and forth between various instruments and the entire movement is bright and playful throughout. It also serves as a high energy ending to bring the entire piece together.

SKU: PE.EP72698A

ISBN 9790577010519. 210 x 297mm inches. English.

Commissioned by Making Music with funds from the Nicholas Berwin Charitable Foundation

First performance: 12th March 2016, Waltham Singers, conducted by Andrew Fardell, King Edward's Grammar School, Chelmsford.

Music runs through the story of Arion, which begins with a singing competition in Sicily. Arion wins the prize, and this puts his life in danger: his newfound wealth excites the Greed of the sailors who are supposed to be bringing him back to Corinth, and they threaten to kill him.  They allow Arion to sing one last song, and the power of his singing attracts dolphins to the ship.  At The End of his song, he jumps overboard, and one of the dolphins carries him to safety.  So Arion’s musical gift gets him into trouble, but it is also his salvation.  

The idea of being rescued by a music-loving dolphin is very appealing.  In Robert Graves’ account of the myth, the dolphin could not bear to be parted from Arion, and accompanied him back to court, where “it soon succumbed to a life of luxury.”  However, Herodotus says that, after his rescue and return to Corinth, Arion failed to return the dolphin to the sea, and it died there.  Apollo placed the dolphin among the stars, and next to it, Arion’s lyre, in recognition of his musical skill.  This is one of the mythical explanations of the origins of the constellations Delphinus and Lyra.

It seems natural to sing a story that has singing at its heart.  When I was asked by the Nicholas Berwin Charitable Trust to write a choral work for Making Music, something that would be within reach of many choirs, and involve children, this story struck me as ideal: the men of the chorus could be the bloodthirsty sailors, and the women could create an atmosphere of mystery for the arrival of the dolphins, represented by children’s voices.  There would be one solo voice: Arion, the marvellous singer.  Andrew Fardell, the conductor who was advisor to this commission, had suggested that I might use the same instrumentation as a popular arrangement of Orff’s Carmina Burana, a work that, as well as using children’s chorus, features a solo countertenor.  I thought the magical, otherworldly quality of this voice would help to convey the extraordinary effect Arion’s singing had on all who heard it. 

- Jonathan Dove

SKU: HL.49007855

ISBN 9783795754563. UPC: 841886032545. 8.25x11.75x0.177 inches. German. Anne Dithmar.

Eine 4-farbige, frohliche Celloschule fur den fruhinstrumentalen Unterricht mit Kindern im Alter von 5-9 Jahren. Der Unterrichtsstoff wird spielerisch und anschaulich vermittelt; dies zeigt schon der Titel Cello-Bar: Er hilft dem Kind dabei, die Eigenarten des Instrumentes zu erleben und sich mit ihm zu identifizieren. Das Cello wird zunachst ausprobiert, eine Bildergeschichte vertont, dann werden erste Lieder und Rhythmen gespielt. Dieses Heranfuhren an das Instrument geschieht noch ohne Noten, damit die Klangvorstellung und das Horen bzw. Sich-Zuhoren im Vordergrund stehen. Dann folgt das Spiel mit leeren Saiten, allerdings nicht als trockene Ubung, sondern spielerisch und kreativ: Die Kinder basteln verschiedene Rhythmuskartchen, mit denen sie dem Cellobarchen jede Woche ein neues Essen kochen. Sie erfinden also ihre Bogen- und Saiten-Ubungen selbst, sind sozusagen von Anfang an auch Komponist, aber sehr behutsam, so dass am Ende des 1. Heftes gleichzeitig gegriffen und gestrichen wird. (3. Finger, Kuckucksterz).Band 2 fuhrt alle Tone der 1. Lage ein (2. und 3. Finger) und festigt den Tonraum c-d1 mit vielen Liedern und Duetten.Ausgezeichnet mit dem Deutschen Musikeditionspreis 1997.