H71a Amistad 2

H71b Amistad 3

H71c Amistad 4

(2021)

Instrumentation: H71a – Basset Clarinet and Bassoon H71b – Viola and Double bass H71c – Horn and Tuba

Duration: 6.5’

Scores and parts are available

Programme notes:

‘Amistad’ (catalogue number H71), which takes its title from the Spanish word for friendship, was written for two flutes in May 2013; a set of three pieces played continuously and based on the three syllables of the word a-mi-stad. The first piece begins on the note A and the second piece on E (-mi-) and the final movement has four sections of equal length which take the individual letters as their respective starting points; S (Eb/D#), T (B), the return of A and then D. It was written by way of thanks to Thierry Fischer and Emmanuel Pahud for their work on my flute concerto, ‘Morpheus Wakes’.

In late June of this year (2021) I decided to arrange the piece for three different duos, namely ‘Amistad 2’ for basset clarinet and bassoon (H71a), ‘Amistad 3’ for viola and double bass (H71b) and ‘Amistad 4’ for horn and tuba (H71c). Mark Simpson and Amy Harman are, unsurprisingly, down to play the basset clarinet and bassoon version and it’s dedicated to them. The other two are open to offers . . .

The pieces are generally as long as the original and last approximately 6’30”.

SH
29 November 2021