Dorset Suite -[guitar duo - 2007]




After hearing the remarkable Chris Stell & Mark Eden in concert I resolved to write something for them, and hearing of their 'music for an island' project I resolved to put together a folksong suite for them. Beginning with straight transcriptions of previously arranged folksongs ["Dance to Your Daddy", "Seventeen Come Sunday"] and re-working others ["I Will Give my Love an Apple"] I added three brand new arrangements - "I'll Mount the Air on Swallow's Wings", "Barbara Allen" & "The Barley Mow". Within this last setting I have incorporated the magnificent "My Rose in June". Chris seemed very pleased with my completed suite, and reported that Mark was bowled over by the music. The Duo was going to have been premiered in the Purcell Room  in 2010, but for one reason or another didn't happen, much to my disappointment. I do not now know whether or not this suite will ever be performed by the Duo, but I really do hope so.

Oh yes, and I suppose I have to leap to the defence of the inclusion of, in particular, Dance to Your Daddy in what I have called a Dorset Suite: there is no proof of which I am aware that this glorious tune [actually I have incorporated both the tunes associated with the words] derived from the north east - it could just as well have been sung in Weymouth harbour by returning fishermen, little kids dandling on their laps.... So I am reclaiming the melody [actually both melodies] for Dorset!