Traditional – Fauna and Flora of Japan (String Quartet Score)

We have all heard of Wales described as the Land of Song, but in this lively medley (a companion piece to Bill Thorp's Suite Irish Sherry), the well-known folk songs David of the White Rock, Cadair Idris and The Ash Grove are combined with lesser-known Welsh dance tunes Hunting the Hare, Powell's Fancy and Corris’ Whim, culminating in the unforgettable (and certainly unpronounceable!) Pibddawns gwŷr Gwrecsam. Originally arranged for a wedding this is a fun piece that is perfect for 'function' quartets. With interest in all parts it is a good piece for any string quartet, whether student, amateur or professional, to relax with and enjoy in concert or at home.

Like its predecessor, Christmas Medley One, this is a cleverly devised potpourri by Carlo Martelli of some of your favourite Yuletide tunes framed by Jingle Bells, one of the most recently composed. Other carols included in this concatenation are Ding Dong Merrily on High, Good King Wenceslas, I Saw Three Ships and Hark The Herald Angels Sing. Suitable for concerts, encores, or just sheer enjoyment.

This delightful collection of traditional Japanese folk songs, arranged by Bill Thorp, is framed by a cradle song Sleep, Baby, Sleep and was originally marked "in butterfly fashion", with the footnote "a young mother seems to flit from theme to theme in the attempt to lullaby her infant". The fauna and flora she sings of in her attempt include cranes and turtles, lotus flowers, a rabbit on the moon, foxes barking in the darkness, a poor canary, red dragonflies, tummy-drumming badgers and, of course, cherry blossoms.