£14.95
These fine miniatures for horn quartet are the first of two sets intended as a way of providing the young horn student with the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the quartet sound and experience. Traditional harmony prevails, providing the musicians with the opportunity to hear and work at sectional balance and part discipline. These quartets are a lighter addition to the Fripperies. For the intermediate student.
Piece Description
These fine miniatures for horn quartet are the first of two sets intended as a way of providing the young horn student with the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the quartet sound and experience. Traditional harmony prevails, providing the musicians with the opportunity to hear and work at sectional balance and part discipline. These quartets are a lighter addition to the Fripperies. For the intermediate student.
Review: “On the Way consists of four movements. The first is a March which is heralded by a simple fanfare figure. The march itself has some clever touches for such an easy piece. It makes good use of imitation and keeps sneaking into a ‘Lydian’ mode to make it more interesting – that means it has E naturals in B flat major! It ends with final calls from the first horn as the march goes off into the distance. The second movement is a very short Lullaby and therefore aptly subtitled ‘Cat Nap’. It is in 6/8 and lilts along comfortably with the lead line being shared out between the first and third horns. There is a 9/8 bar thrown in for good measure to catch out those not concentrating. Close harmonies are used effectively throughout. There is a Charleston-like dance for the third movement, which allows the fourth horn a share of the limelight with a punchy bass line and a couple of ascending scale passages, one of which is again in a Lydian mode. The Finale is a lively gallop which is introduced using bare fifths. The players are divided into pairs, with an alternating on versus off beat rhythm. The writing is very hornistic and lies mostly on the harmonics. It gives a rousing end to a well thought out quartet. This collection in particular must surely have a place in the repertoire as an alternative to the ‘Fripperies’. I do hope Alan will be inspired to write more.”- Lindsay Robinson, The Horn Magazine
Review: “Alan Danson has composed a fine set of 4 pieces for a young quartet. Well written for the level.” – News Notes September 1994
Additional information
| Media | |
|---|---|
| Composer | |
| Instrumentation | |
| Difficulty | |
| Series | |
| Movement Titles |
Biography
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
Related products
Horn Quartet
An arrangement by Martin Yates for horn quartet of this popular song.
These fine miniatures for horn quartet are the first of two sets intended as a way of providing the young horn student with the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the quartet sound and experience. Traditional harmony prevails, providing the musicians with the opportunity to hear and work at sectional balance and part discipline. These quartets are a lighter addition to the Fripperies. For the intermediate student.
The first in a series of three, each movement of these arrangements by Alan Danson presents a 'quasi cameo' of the character of its American origins. Ragtime Cakewalk suggests the essence and style of this type of dance through the chuckling cor anglais, solid bassoon accompaniment and counter line on the clarinet. In Cowboy's Toon the bassoon provides a laid back foundation, whilst the clarinet and oboe duet side by side with a line incorporating some of the bending tones one might expect to hear from the cowboy's drawl. In Barn Dance a sense of team enjoyment is portrayed, with the clarinet line accompanied by high jinks, vocal calls and clapping from the Cor Anglais and Bassoon.
The first in a series of three, each movement of these arrangements by Alan Danson presents a 'quasi cameo' of the character of its American origins. Ragtime Cakewalk suggests the essence and style of this type of dance through the chuckling cor anglais, solid bassoon accompaniment and counter line on the clarinet. In Cowboy's Toon the bassoon provides a laid back foundation, whilst the clarinet and oboe duet side by side with a line incorporating some of the bending tones one might expect to hear from the cowboy's drawl. In Barn Dance a sense of team enjoyment is portrayed, with the clarinet line accompanied by high jinks, vocal calls and clapping from the Cor Anglais and Bassoon.
This arrangement by Alan Danson conveys the triumph and celebration of the Finale of Beethoven's 5th Symphony. The writing is idiomatic and melodic interest is shared between all parts, with rare moments of a contemporary approach to the work here and there. An ideal opener to the second half of a concert. For schools, studios and professionals.
An arrangement by Alan Civil from Mendelssohn's Children's Pieces for piano.