'Arabesque' was written for my youngest daughter Lydia (photo) a keen flautist. It was published by in 2004 by Emerson Editions Ltd.
On this recording the flute is played by friends Helen Foster and the piano by Marcel Zidani.

'ARABESQUE' for flute & piano by John Frith

Published by Hopvine Music in 2008 this has delighted audiences of all ages as the story of Toad, Ratty, Badger and their arch adversaries the Weasels unfolds with its many humorous twists and turns. There is, in addition, a narration for the silent 4th instrument of the standard Wind Quintet (the horn player) who will need to fully enter into the spirit of the piece in order to add occasional comments adding much to the overall effect. This is an MP3 Sibelius file recording.

'WIND IN THE WILLOWS FANTASY' for Fl, Ob, Cl & Bsn

Fireworks was commissioned by The British Tuba Quartet in 1995.
The challenge was to write an exciting piece for a quartet of tubas - a new combinations of instruments for me - consisting of two Euphoniums (tenor tubas) an Eb Tuba and a Bb Tuba. Fireworks begins and ends with fire-crackers from a live recording of a bonfire night gathering complete with rocket sounds in the foreground (on my request)the instruments imitate these 'explosive' sounds and this fine recording was the result. The music is published by Studio Music.

FIREWORKS for Tuba Quartet by John Frith

This music resulted from a conversation about my friend Deidre Summerlin's early-morning experience of the auroras borealis at 3am one Summers day in 1998 near Peterborough U.K.
She described how, on returning from a gig she was about to remove her 'cello from the boot of her car when the sky lit up in a marvellous way. Transfixed she remained rooted to the spot as this dramatic light show unfolded. I have endeavoured to fix in sound some of these very personal moments of ever-changing emotions. The music begins with a drone from a muted G against which the player also plays another line. Deidre is playing on this recording which has been digitalized from an analog cassette original. This work has not been published.

'AURORA' for 'cello & Piano by John Frith

Brass Times are a professional brass ensemble. In 2012 they asked me for this arrangement.
Currently it is being considered for publication.
The photograph is of me in my playing days.

'FIELDS OF GOLD' for Brass Quintet arranged by John Frith

Tessa, my daughter, also studied at Dartington College of Arts in Devon U.K. and in 1980 received her degree in music. Since those days she has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and has spent some ten years finding the right medication that would release her from the dark place where her illness had imprisoned her. I only mention this sadness because it was this experience that prompted her to express herself through writing songs. This very beautiful song 'Always' touched my heart particularly because of its universal lyric, its honesty and the simplicity of its melody. I felt very privileged to be asked to add a string quartet arrangement to the mix of voice and guitar. I believe you will be able to detect in Tessa's vocal style an abiding interest in Renaissance choral singing.

'ALWAYS' for Voice & String Quartet by Tessa Frith arr. J.F.

A beautiful noise was commissioned by a Birmingham (U.K.) based trombonist named Jonathan Warburton who now lives and works in the U.S. Subsequently Brad Palmer (rt. in photo) and his brilliant student trombonists from Columbus State University in Georgia (U.S.A.)decided to invite the worlds very best trombone soloists to their campus to record an album which they also called 'A BEAUTIFUL NOISE' referring to the sonority of a trombone choir.
My piece has 3 movements and the soloist asked to perform it on their disc was Paul Pollard bass trombonist with the Metropolitan Opera N.Y.
This is, for me, a thrilling performance  by Paul and the student ensemble. Their attention to detail is impressive as it their musicianship and subtlety and variety of tonal colour.

Cherry Classics published this work in 2009

'A BEAUTIFUL NOISE' for Bass Trom. & Trom. Ens.(3rd mvt.)by John Frith

The Big Top is an 8 movement suite depicting the many acts that  perform in most traditional circuses. 'Circus Clowns' is the first of these and I have tried to convey the antics of clowns in competition with a large dose of slapstick thrown into the mix. Brass Times (brass quintet)recorded this work during the first performance at Lickey Church south of Birmingham U.K. 

Cherry Classics published this work in 2010

'CIRCUS CLOWNS'(from The Big Top)for Brass Quintet by John Frith

The Big Top is an 8 movement suite depicting the many acts that perform in most traditional circuses. 'The Tumblers' is, as you might expect, fast moving and full of energy. Brass Times(brass quintet)recorded this work during the first performance at Lickey Church south of Birmingham U.K.
Cherry Classics published this work in 2010

'THE TUMBLERS'(form The Big Top)for Brass Quintet by John Frith

The Big Top is an 8 movement suite depicting the many acts that perform in most traditional circuses. Grand Finale is a resume of the many acts that were on the billing of our Big Top Circus. Brass Times(brass quintet)recorded this work during the first performance at Lickey Church south of Birmingham U.K.
Cherry Classics published this work in 2010

'GRAND FINALE' (from The Big Top) for Brass Quintet by John Frith

In 2013 I was commissioned to write a piece to 'showcase' the skills of for a my friend and bass trombonist Jonathan Warburton (photo). It was performed at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester.  Unfortunately no recording was possible on that occasion so here is an MP3 of my SIbelius score.
This music is published by Warwick Music with a piano reduction of the score.

'SHOWCASE' for Bass Trombone & Orchestra by John Frith

My 'THREE BLAKE SETTINGS' were published in 1999.
These songs are to be accompanied by harp (or piano)and are for ladies/children's voices. This recorded extracts (recorded by David Crown and his New Oxford Singers) were for use on the Hopvine Music website.
To view scores & listen go to www.hopvine-music.com

LITTLE LAMB
'Little Lamb, who made thee?
Dost thou know who made thee?
Gave thee life and bid thee feed
By the stream and o're the mead;
Gave thee clothing of delight'
Softest clothing wooly, bright;
Gave thee such a tender voice,
Making all the world rejoice?
Little Lamb, who made thee?
Dost thou know who made thee?................

'LITTLE LAMB' for SSA Choir + Harp / Piano by John Frith

My 'THREE BLAKE SETTINGS' were published in 1999.
These songs are to be accompanied by harp (or piano)and are for ladies/children's voices. This recorded extracts (recorded by David Crown and his New Oxford Singers) were for use on the Hopvine Music website.
To view scores & listen go to www.hopvine-music.com

INFANT JOY
'I have no name;
I am but two days old.'

What shall I call thee?
'I happy am,
Joy is my name'

Sweet joy befall thee..............

'INFANT JOY' for SSA Choir + Harp / Piano by John Frith

My 'THREE BLAKE SETTINGS' were published in 1999.
These songs are to be accompanied by harp (or piano)and are for ladies/children's voices. This recorded extracts (recorded by David Crown and his New Oxford Singers) were for use on the Hopvine Music website.
To view scores & listen go to www.hopvine-music.com

INTRODUCTION
Piping down the valleys wild,
Piping songs of pleasant glee,
On a cloud I saw a child,
And he laughing said to me:

'Pipe a song about a lamb!'
So I piped with merry cheer,
'Piper, pipe that song again;'

So I piped, he wept to hear...................


'INTRODUCTION' for SSA Choir + Harp / Piano by John Frith

This Trio was composed for friends who performed it first in Basel, Switzerland. Unfortunately I do not have a live recording of this piece so this MP3 from my Sibelius files has to suffice. The 'hand-stopped' notes in the horn part are only approximated here.
'Rondo Finale' was published by Emerson Publications in 2010.

'RONDO FINALE' Trio for Flute, Horn & Piano by John Frith

This music was my attempt to fuse elements of Jazz and Classical music into a piece for Alto Sax and Piano.
It was published by Hopvine Music in 2011. In this recording Anne de Dadelsen accompanies Mike Halliday on Eb Saxophone.
To view and hear visit www.hopvine-music.com

'SAXOPHONY' for Alto Saxophone by John Frith

Andy Berryman was 16 (I believe) when in 1983 he made this recording with his father John conducting the William Davis Construction Group Band.
The music started life as a song with piano accompaniment but was later modified to form the basis for this 'tongue-in-cheek' caricature of a drunken musician making his way home after a 'session'. You will hear the off-beat tune gradually disintegrate as self-pity and remorse get the better of our soloist culminating in an 'unbalanced' cadenza with timpani accompaniment. The piece ends with our recovering musician  sufficiently sober to hold a long and final blast!
The recording was released on the ASV label in their 'Best Of British Brass' series. 

'THE TEETOTALLER' for Trombone & Brass Band by John Frith

Final movement of four from: 
'SUMMER SKETCHES' (C) John Frith 
written for my wife Pam (photo) who plays the solo on this recording of the first performance in Ledbury Parish Church U.K.. 
Published 2005 by Emerson Edition Ltd. 
for oboe & piano(reduction) Full score and orchestral parts (pdf) available from the composer on request.hhhhhh

'SUMMER SKETCHES' for Oboe & Strings (4th mvt.) by John Frith

Second movement of four from: 
'SUMMER SKETCHES' (C) John Frith 
written for my wife Pam (photo) who plays the solo on this recording of the first performance in Ledbury Parish Church U.K.. 
Published 2005 by Emerson Edition Ltd. 
for oboe & piano(reduction) Full score and orchestral parts (pdf) available from the composer on request.

'SUMMER SKETCHES' for Oboe & Strings (3rd mvt.) by John Frith

'SUMMER SKETCHES' for Oboe & Strings (2nd mvt.) by John Frith

First movement of four from: 
'SUMMER SKETCHES' (C) John Frith 
written for my wife Pam (photo) who plays the solo on this recording of the first performance in Ledbury Parish Church U.K.. 
Published 2005 by Emerson Edition Ltd. 
for oboe & piano(reduction) Full score and orchestral parts (pdf) available from the composer on request.

'SUMMER SKETCHES' for Oboe & Strings (1st mvt.) by John Frith

John Frith was born in Hampshire, England, and has had a lifelong love of music. His professional training began at Dartington College of Arts where he studied composition with Richard Hall. He continued his musical education at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama studying horn with Anthony Halstead and composition with Edmund Rubbra, winning the brass and school composition prizes in 1970 and 1971. Having combined professional horn playing with teaching for some years, John now lives in the West Midlands, England. He recently retired from Worcester Youth Music where he had the dual role of brass teacher and 'composer in residence' in county schools, developing creative projects with young children.
John has written extensively for wind, brass, strings and voices and has published many pieces for various combinations of instruments including large orchestral pieces, some of which have been both professionally recorded and broadcast on the BBC.

JOHN FRITH - COMPOSITIONS

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