Spasmodic - A Duet for Four Recorders

YCS009 Karyn Ashley Spasmodic

Another excellent publication from Orpheus, this "duet for four recorders" expands the repertoire in which the player/s must play two recorders at once - in this case, both players playing descant and treble to produce a quartet.  Although this obviously limits the note range available, in this piece the three movements are thematically contrasted - although a predilection for 5/8 and 7/8 time signatures is evident in both 1st and 3rd movements.

Musically effective, this piece is technically not too demanding - once you have mastered playing two recorders at once, this work is very accessible.  However there are one or two tricky areas, most noticeably in the 2nd movement which requires some E flats from the 2nd player (treble).  If you are to play in tune, then some alternative fingerings are very much required here.

All in all, a very enjoyable piece: well set out as one has come to expect from Orpheus, with two scores provided.  Let's hope that the 17-year-old Karyn Ashley continues to provide us with equally competent repertoire

Jean McCreeny, The Recorder Magazine, Winter 2001