Orpheus Music publishes contemporary recorder music featuring such composers as Diana Blom, Nigel Butterley, Zana Clarke, Justo Diaz, Lance Eccles, Ross Edwards, Malcolm Tattersall and Benjamin Thorn.
We represent over 70 composers, including many young composers, with more than 260 works that provide a wide range of styles and genres for one to ten recorder players. We also have a useful Recorder Composing Guide and Glossary of Unusual Recorder Techniques for those interested in writing for the recorder.
Orpheus Music Publications are also available from our distributors in Germany, UK, and USA.
Orpheus Music String Series has now been launched. Put OMSS into the search box to view this series. For more information.
Score 11 pp.
Contemporary Piece.
Ten short tuneful pieces for various recorders (D, Tr, B) and percussion (marimba, bongos, cymbal). A short version for solo treble may be performed.
OMP071 Benjamin Thorn Mefisto Miniatures
Taking their name from the well-known waltzes by Liszt, the "Mefisto Miniatures" are ten short pieces scored for a range of recorders (soprano, alto and bass) and percussion (marimba, bongos and cymbal). Although the score contains some interesting biographical details of Benjamin Thorn, rather disappointingly there is no text relating to the performance of this work. However, it seems fairly clear that the composition can be performed in a variety of forms: firstly, as originally intended as a mixture of pieces for solo recorder, solo percussion and duets featuring recorder and percussion; and secondly, as a selection of up to eight solos for recorder.
No. 1 is an elegant solo for bass recorder in 5/8, with a relentlessly lilting rhythm. Almost all written in the lower octave, there is a richly expressive tone throughout. No. 2 begins with an 8-bar marimba introduction before the soprano recorder enters. This miniature in 6/8 has the feel of a slow jog with a feel of G minor, although the several F naturals and A flats suggest modality. This movement, as with No. 5 also has an alternative version for solo alto.
No. 8 is a fantasia-like solo for alto recorder marked "freely". The melody meanders with rhythmic flexibility through this miniature without time signature. Although bar lines are present, very rarely do two consecutive bars have the same number of beats. The final piece, for alto and marimba, is a challenging piece with rapidly changing time signatures
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Allspice Music retails sheet music from a carefully selected group of publishers. It provides the full range of music from around the world and across the ages.
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