Alan Danson – A Medley of Rhymes for Five Brass (Brass Quintet)

This arrangement of familiar nursery rhymes was intended as a means of introducing younger children to the medium of the brass quintet. Each rhyme is dressed in a musical identity, with each player given plenty of note activity. Some rhymes are slightly tongue in cheek while others are blatantly satirical. The work opens and closes with the rhyme Oranges and Lemons and the medley runs logically lasting for 5 to 6 minutes. It is an ideal encore item or light alternative to follow a quintet that might have challenged both performer and listener. A Medley of Rhymes for Five Brass is a popular addition to serious concert programmes.

Review: "(Cue gentle continuity announcer): 'The time is a quarter to two. And now here on the BBC Light Programme, its time for Listen With Mother.' "Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin". Thus I was introduced by Daphne Oxenford (and the singer George Dixon) to the treasury of British nursery rhymes and their associated melodies. But how many people aged under 40 can even recite the words, let alone hum the tune? If my experience as a brass teacher for 25 years is anything to go by – not many! A Medley of Rhymes for Five Brass is a jolly arrangement by Alan Danson of six of the best, and brings these tunes, condemned as unfashionable, back home from their extended exile. They are Oranges and Lemons, Three Blind Mice, Humpty Dumpty', Girls and Boys Come Out to Play, Goosy Goosy Gander and Sing a Song of Sixpence. The medley is continuous, with each tune given its own special flavour through the use of intricate scoring between the players: two trumpets, horn, trombone and tuba. The way these songs have been arranged allows them to be enjoyed at more than one level, rather like Mozart's A Musical Joke. The musical requirements demanded by Alan Danson mean that this work is suitable for advanced players – top C for 1st trumpet, top Bb for horn, top A for trombone with regular departures into the tenor clef, and the tuba is an equal partner rather than simply providing the bass line." – Robert Parker, Winds Magazine, Winter 2006

Biography

Danson, Alan

Alan Danson's studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London were in Horn, Piano and Orchestration. After leaving college in 1974, he worked as a freelance horn player in West End shows, with Ballet companies, Symphony Orchestras and studios, whilst retaining his interest in composition. He has directed the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in commercial work, worked as an arranger for BBC TV and composed for TV commercials. He is also involved in musical education. His development as a composer was as a result of his work experience in studying scores, observing compositional techniques whilst playing and directing groups, and composing for various musical combinations. See www.sounddimensionsmusic.com