CHAMBER MUSIC by Neil Buckland
The Coffee Ground
(7’30), four versions:
– for 4 clarinets – CONTACT
– for 4 bassoons – CONTACT
– for 4, 8, 12… cellos (players of equal ability) – CONTACT
– for cello ensemble (players of differing abilities) – CONTACT
The ground, or ground bass, is a theme that is repeated in the bass unchanged while the other parts do different things. The other instruments often play ‘divisions’ above the ground, varying patterns of shorter notes, and I originally called this piece ‘Divisions on a Ground’, after some English baroque examples. In baroque music the other instruments normally have the most interesting and elaborate music to play while the bass soldiers on with the unchanging ground. Here I take a more modern and, from the musicians’ point of view, more democratic approach, and also allow the ground some freedom to vary itself from time to time. And since this piece is not overly serious, and has the same effect on my mood as a good cup of freshly ground coffee, I have renamed it ‘The Coffee Ground’.A simulated performance of The Coffee Ground for 4 clarinets plus an excerpt from the version for 4 bassoons is available (under the title Divisions on a Ground) on YouTube, Apple Music/iTunes, Amazon, Google Play Music, Spotify, Deezer and on CD. (To order CDs: CONTACT )
Fame, Gold and Shadow (Beowulf Suite)
for soprano (descant) recorder, Celtic or early harp (or lute)(range: D – b”), organ (or string trio, or SAT viols) and percussion (total duration 28’). 5 movements: – CONTACT
1.Prelude (5’45)
2. Grendel (6’45)
3. Hall-Joy (4’)
4. The Dragon (6’15)
5. Threnody (5’)
The 8th century Anglo-Saxon epic poem Beowulf depicts a world in which human nature, full (as ever) of pride, greed and brutality, was nevertheless still capable of honour, nobility, and genuine heroism. The vivid, evocative poetry and mythic power of the poem are beautifully conveyed in David R. Evans’ unpublished book, Fame, Gold and Shadow, with the original text and parallel translations, calligraphy, illustrations and authoritative commentary by the author.
I wrote this music originally for a multimedia presentation David was hoping to make of his work. When the project did not eventuate, at his suggestion I expanded the original sketches into the present suite of five movements. (For more detailed information on the suite, including performance suggestions, see Fame, Gold & Shadow Suite preface.)
My setting of The Lay of the Last Survivor from Beowulf (see SOLO VOCAL MUSIC) uses David’s translation and is musically related to the Suite. The Prelude from the Fame, Gold & Shadow Suite can be heard in full on the Listen page of this website, on QQ Music, Kuwo and on CD, and the complete Fame, Gold & Shadow Suite together with The Lay of the Last Survivor is on YouTube, Apple Music/iTunes, Amazon, Google Play Music, Spotify, Deezer and on CD. (To order CDs: CONTACT )
The Flower Shall Flourish: Variations on an English Folk Song
(12’30), two versions:
– duo for (i) alto (treble) recorder, flute, oboe, clarinet or violin, and (ii) harp, piano or harpsichord – CONTACT
(the sound sample is played on oboe and harp)
– quintet (or quartet) for (i) alto (treble) recorder, flute or clarinet, (ii) oboe, (iii) violin, (iv) harpsichord, piano or harp and (v) (optional) cello or viola da gamba – CONTACT
The English folk song ‘Queen Jane’ is a powerful lament on the death in childbirth of Jane Seymour, wife of Henry VIII. The title of this piece derives from the song’s final line, “the flower of England shall flourish no more”.
Rather than remain in the elegiac mood of the song, the variations explore ideas and feelings arising from its evocative melody, and from the intermingling of history, myth and symbolism in the lyrics. (Note that in the duo version of this piece the melody part includes high F#’s and G’s and is technically more difficult for recorder or oboe than for the other alternative instruments. This is not the case in the quintet version, however, where their parts are of only moderate difficulty.)
The duo version of The Flower Shall Flourish (played on oboe and harp) can be heard in full on the Listen page of this website, and the quintet version is available on YouTube, Apple Music/iTunes, Amazon, Google Play Music, Spotify, Deezer and on CD. (To order CDs: CONTACT )
Happiness
for cello and piano (2’40) – CONTACT
Arrangement of the orchestral piece Happiness from the collection Climates of the Mind – see ORCHESTRAL MUSIC.
Icescape
(3’30), two versions:
– duo for (i) soprano (descant) recorder or piccolo flute and (ii) piano or organ – CONTACT
– for recorder quintet (SAAAA) – CONTACT
A cool piece.
Nostalgia
for piano trio (violin, cello, piano) (4’45) – CONTACT
This version of Nostalgia for piano trio is a little different to the original orchestral version, but the mood and the melody are unchanged.
O Breath, O Fire
for string quartet with optional harp, piano, qin, zheng, konghou or koto obbligato (range: EE – g”) (3’30) – CONTACT
Instrumental version of my choral piece O Breath, O Fire – see CHORAL MUSIC. (The choral version can be heard on the Listen page of this website.)
Pan and Selene
trio for (i) clarinet, soprano saxophone or violin, (ii) cor anglais, clarinet, alto saxophone or viola, and (iii) harp, piano or harpsichord (4’45) – CONTACT
(the sound sample is played on clarinet, cor anglais and harp)
In the Greek myth of Pan and Selene, Pan, the god of forests and flocks, disguises himself in moon-like white in order to seduce Selene, the moon-goddess: she is seduced by a reflection of herself (like Narcissus). It’s the inner story – the symbolism, the images and projections – that particularly interests me in this tale, and it’s this rather than the literal, outer story that is reflected in this music.Pan and Selene is available on YouTube, Apple Music/iTunes, Amazon, Google Play Music, Spotify, Deezer and on CD. (To order CDs: CONTACT )
Parables of Sunlight
for two oboes (or alto (treble) recorders) and string quartet (9’15) – CONTACT
(the sound sample is of the version with string orchestra)
A tone poem inspired by the sight of the patterns made by cloud shadows and bright sunlight drifting across rolling green fields. The music is not intended to describe this scene directly but to suggest the sense of deeper meaning it evoked.The string orchestra version of Parables of Sunlight can be heard in full on the Listen page of this website, and is available on YouTube, Apple Music/iTunes, Amazon, Google Play Music, Spotify, Deezer, QQ Music, Kuwo and on CD. (To order CDs: CONTACT )
Siciliano, duo
(2’45), seven versions:
– (in D minor) for alto (treble) recorder (or flute) and violin, OR for two Bb clarinets – CONTACT
(the sound sample is played by two clarinets)
– (in C minor) for (i) flute, oboe, Bb clarinet or violin and (ii)(second) violin – CONTACT– for two alto (treble) recorders – CONTACT
– for flute, oboe or violin and cello – CONTACT
– for cor anglais and cello – CONTACT
– for 2 cellos – CONTACT
– for 2 violas da gamba – CONTACT
The siciliano was originally a folk dance from Sicily but is now best known from baroque music as a slow movement in 6/8 time. This little piece mixes folk and baroque elements. Siciliano duo (played on 2 clarinets) is available on YouTube, Apple Music/iTunes, Amazon, Google Play Music, Spotify, Deezer and on CD. (To order CDs: CONTACT )
Sylvan, duo
for two similar instruments (8’45), five versions:
– for two flutes, alto recorders, or clarinets – CONTACT
(the sound sample is played by 2 flutes)
– for two oboes – CONTACT
– for two violins – CONTACT
– for two violas – CONTACT
– for two cellos – CONTACT
“Sylvan” means “a deity or spirit of the woods” or “pertaining or relating to a wood or woods” (OED). This piece arose from reflections in the rich, temperate rainforest of northern New South Wales, Australia, and the sense of a numinous presence that can sometimes be experienced there. (This is the original, much shorter, duo version of my orchestral piece Sylvan.)
A longer excerpt from Sylvan duo (played on 2 flutes) can be heard on the Listen page of this website, and is available on YouTube, Apple Music/iTunes, Amazon, Google Play Music, Spotify, Deezer and on CD. (To order CDs: CONTACT )
Winter Journey
for wind quintet (flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon) (4’15) – CONTACT
A piece that explores feelings and atmospheres rather than describing a specific journey; a journey of the mind.
Winter Journey can be heard in full on the Listen page of this website, and is available on YouTube, Apple Music/iTunes, Amazon, Google Play Music, Spotify, Deezer and on CD. (To order CDs: CONTACT )
(see also ARRANGEMENTS, SOLO VOCAL MUSIC and CHORAL MUSIC for other works with chamber ensembles)
Chamber works in progress
The following works are not yet completed. If you are interested in performing or commissioning the completion of either of these works, please CONTACT me.
The Coffee Ground
for 4 saxophones (7’30) – CONTACT
Winter Journey
for string quartet (4’15) – CONTACT