Product Description
Faures piano duet entitled "Dolly Suite" is here arranged
by Philip Le Bas for a wind quintet with a difference: the clarinettist is
asked play bass clarinet in three of the six pieces. This gives the music more
sonority and it allows the arranger more opportunity to bring out Faures
sumptuous harmonies. "Dolly" was the nickname of the baby daughter of Emma
Bardac, with whom Faure had a long-running affair, and each of the pieces has a
slightly different association with childhood.
1)
The "Berceuse" (lullaby) is best remembered as
the theme tune to the BBCs "Listen with Mother", and its tune is indelibly
marked into the memories of generations of radio listeners between 1950 and
1982. It was written for Dollys first birthday. (An alternative part for clarinet
in A is available for this movement, to avoid the otherwise slightly tricky key
signature of F sharp major!)
2)
"Mi-a-ou" has nothing to do with cats, but is a
version of Dollys first attempts to pronounce the name of her brother Raoul. Written
for her second birthday, it is a delicate and playful scherzo with lots of
cross-rhythms for the instruments.
3)
"Le Jardin de Dolly" is regarded by some as the best
piece in the collection, with its gorgeous tune and unexpected harmonies, creating
an impressionistic picture of a beautiful, peaceful French garden.
4)
"Kitty-Valse" again has nothing to do with cats
but with the family dog "Ketty", who whirls round and round, in unrelenting
cheerfulness.
5)
In "Tendresse" Faure introduces more chromatic
harmonies, used in his later works. As its name and its key of D flat suggests,
the music here seems to express deep and shifting emotions associated with
intimate relationships, while retaining a sense of calm and comfort throughout.
6)
The last piece, "Le Pas Espagnole" is a thrilling
journey across the border into the exotic Spanish world of dance. There is much
in common with Chabriers "Espana", and here the wind players can enjoy playing
at "full tilt" in an exciting and tuneful end to the suite.
This product was created by a member of ArrangeMe, Hal Leonard's global self-publishing community of independent composers, arrangers, and songwriters. ArrangeMe allows for the publication of unique arrangements of both popular titles and original compositions from a wide variety of voices and backgrounds.