Computer-generated audio

Myrkviðr (Mirkwood) is the Old Norse word for “dark wood” or “black forest” and occurs in several folktales of Germany, Norway, Sweden and related forms of the name occur across Europe and may be a general term for a dark and dense forest. 

The name was anglicised by Sir Walter Scott (in Waverley) and William Morris (in The House of the Wolfings) and later popularized by J. R. R. Tolkien as "Mirkwood". 

Tolkien comments on Myrkviðr in a letter to his eldest grandson: “Mirkwood is not an invention of mine, but a very ancient name, weighted with legendary associations. It was probably the Primitive Germanic name for the great mountainous forest regions that anciently formed a barrier to the south of the lands of Germanic expansion. In some traditions, it became used especially of the boundary between Goths and Huns.” 

In the Norse tradition 'crossing the Black Forest' came to signify penetrating the barriers between one world and another, especially the world of the gods and the world of fire, where Surtr, the god of fire, lives. The old Norse manuscripts describe Surtr as the first of the fire giants to emerge from the flames of Muspelheim, the realm of fire, holding an immense fire sword. 

Although the work is not intended to be overtly programmatic, the opening chords reveal the awesome, dark majesty of the forest before settling into the almost complete absence of light and, as the mists clear, they may encounter evil spirits, dwarves forging metal into weapons, the gathering of elven armies, battles, the fair Melusine bathing and meeting her prince before her secret is discovered and she wreaks her terrible vengeance, the games and tricks of sprites and goblins, the arrival of Oberon and Titania (or, possibly, Gandalf) to restore order and even the occasional dragon, breathing fire and spitting sparks before a bacchanal draws the work to its conclusion. It is for the listeners and performers to conjure up whatever images they will as everyone’s perception of Myrkviðr (Mirkwood) is different.

This work is dedicated to the memory of Walter White, long-time conductor of the Ystradgynlais Silver Band. Walter was my first trumpet teacher (later my classroom teacher for both ‘O’ and ‘A’ levels) and introduced me to the world of brass bands. It was Walter who encouraged me to compose and to apply to study with Alun Hoddinott at University College, Cardiff. I owe this mild and generous man everything.

Duration: 17 minutes

Myrkviðr (Mirkwood)

Matty playing Happy Birthday to me on my 83rd birthday

MATTY HAPPY BIRTHDAY.WAV

Prince Igor Overture by Borodin played by the Symphony Orchestra of Kharkiv Conservatory (Харківська консерваторія; Kharkivska konservatoriia). The only orchestra with which I have worked which used to take me to watch the local football team, Metalist Kharkiv. This season they were top of the league until football stopped.

Prince Igor Overture Kharkiv.WAV

Astor Piazzolla
Estaciones Porteñas - Verano Porteño 
(The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires - Buenos Aires Summer)

As reimagined by The Triple A Society



THE KAMMERKLUBBEN TAPES

Verano Porteño - Astor Piazzolla

Entrance: Carousing: Embarkation
 op. 71 (1990)
Robin Holloway b. 19 October 1943
for symphonic band  Duration: 22'
Publisher  Boosey & Hawkes

4(I,II,III,IV=picc).2.corA.8.Ebcl.altocl.2bcl.dbcl.ssax(=sopraninosax).asax(=ssax).tsax.
barsax.2.dbn-4.4.4.2euph.2-timp-perc(6:5/6 ad lib):SD/glsp/ratchet/large cyms/TD/marimba/xyl/
2Chin.bl/tamb/2tgl/BD/vib/t.bells/claves/whip/2susp.cym/maracas/jingles/wdbl/tam-t/2klaxons/
bell tree-double basses

World Premiere  11/5/1992
Opperman Music Hall, Tallahassee, Florida
Florida State University Wind Orchestra / James Croft

This work was commissioned by a consortium of five American wind bands. It was sketched intermittently from 1988 but the main composing was done Summer 1990. Though large in scale it is simple in shape – an introduction and allegro with coda. The introduction is of course the Entrance. The Carousing is the rondo allegro opened up by the entrance; its episodes, variously riotous or plangent, form islands within an overall loosely fugal texture. At the climax the opening is regained, its elements reordered and drastically curtailed. It leads this time into a rough drinking song which expands into a final grandiose apotheosis – as if the Viking longboats were tunnelling out into stormy Northern seas, then receding into the distance over the horizon.
Entrance:Carousing:Embarcation is dedicated to Malcolm Williamson in the year of his 60th birthday.
Robin Holloway

Robin Holloway: Entrance; Carousing; Embarcation.WAV

Ito As Time Is Passing.WAV

Cocochin. Primer movimiento de Marco Polo, el Libro de la India tercera parte de la trilogía sobre Marco Polo del compositor Luis Serrano Alarcón.

Cocochin. First Movement from Marco Polo, the Book of India, third part of the trilogy about Marco Polo by the Spanish composer Luis Serrano Alarcón.

Banda Sinfónica CIM La Armónica de Buñol
Frank De Vuyst, director/conductor

Más información/More information: alarconmusic.com


Marco Polo. El Libro de la India. I - Cocochin

Concerto For Piano And Wind Orchestra - Edwin Roxburgh

Anthony Burgess was invited to write this work by the American double bassist, Jonathan Haskell, in the Suisse Romande Orchestra, and Haskell conducted the premiere on 11th April 1988. Powell writes:  But the title is a trick. The calendar and the chromatic scale have in common a division into twelve. As the year moves from January to December, so in my work the musical intervals I exploit harmonically run from the minor second to the octave.” Scored for double wind quartet;trumpet, horn, timps, percussion and piano

Anthony Burgess/Mr Burgess’s Almanack  25.03.2018.edited

The Suite 1984 was composed for the National Youth Wind Orchestra of Great Britain and conducted by Harry Legge. The work is drawn from the composer's music for the film and is scored for a large wind orchestra. The Suite is in one continuous movement; it begins with a setting of the old poem which Winston recalls while sitting in the Chestnut Tree Cafe. This is followed by a march, The march alternates with varied reflective treatments of "Under the Spreading Chestnut Tree" until a final hymn to Oceania leads into a peaceful coda. He looked up again at the portrait of Big Brother. Forty years it had taken him to learn what kind of a smile was hidden beneath the dark moustache. But it was all right, everything was all right, the
struggle was finished. He had won the victory over himself. He loved Big Brother.

Muldowney 1984.WAV

A tone poem based on the novel by H.G.Wells

Muldowney 1984.WAV

Tim Reynish MBE, Conductor

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