Picc. (g treb). 4 Fl.
Afl. Bfl. (CaFl.) (Cb
fl.) (Dcb Fl.) -
Intermediate-Advanced
SKU: FT.FM516
Composed by John Rutter.
Arranged by Robert
Rainford. Flute Ensemble.
Score and Parts. Forton
Music #FM516. Published
by Forton Music
(FT.FM516).
ISBN
9790570484157.
Whil
st John Rutter is
extremely well known for
his religious choral
music, he has also
written a few orchestral
pieces that are every bit
the equal of his better
known works. This Suite
is indeed one of these.
Originally written in
1973, and following the
tradition of earlier
English composers like
Vaughn Williams and Percy
Grainger, this suite
explores various English
folk tunes. The opening
movement has a kind of
hornpipe feeling to it
that uses the jaunty tune
'A rovin' yet this is
balanced with the more
reflective counter melody
'I sowed the seed of
love.' Of course the
'racy' tune wins the day!
The second movement - 'I
Have A Bonnet Trimmed In
Blue' is a perfect
evocation of an elegant
young lady who is keen to
display her new bonnet to
the local swains! Yet
perhaps she is a little
shy and is apprehensive
about possible comments.
From the last section I
believe she found her
hearts desire… The
slow movement is based on
the folksong 'O Waly
Waly', a tune that will
forever be associated
with the late Kathleen
Ferrier. This version
gives the tune a sense of
regret and sometimes
intensity that matches
the words:- O love is
handsome and love is
fine, And love is
charming when it is true;
As it grows older it
groweth colder And fades
away like the morning
dew. The mood is lifted
for the last movement,
with an almost Handelian
rendition of 'Dashing
Away With The Smoothing
Iron'. However, this tune
doesn't have everything
it's own way, for the
'Bailiff's Daughter'
makes an appearance as
well for a triumphant
ending:- O stay, O stay
thou goodly youth! She's
alive, she is not dead;
Here she standeth by thy
side, And is ready to be
thy bride... (and
hopefully they both do
the ironing!).
I have a bonnet
