Dawn and Dusk Book 2

OMP007 Zana Clarke Dawn & Dusk - A Recorder Songbook (Book 2)

This diverse array of recorder 'songs' (without words) by Zana Clarke captures the essence of one of Orpheus Music's Major objectives - 'to foster the growth of melodic music'. But thankfully it is far from being a collection of predictable and tiresome 'Go Tell Aunt Nancy' descant tunes.

Clarke's nineteen original compositions draw from her rich musical experiences in the ensembles Cantigas (mediaeval potpourri) and Nardoo (original cross-cultural). The melodies range from the relatively straightforward diatonic of Apple Blossom in 3/4 to the 'Arabic' modes of Rushna in 7/4. Clarke's great achievement throughout is that the structured and notated melodies still retain a refreshing allusion to spontaneous improvisation.

Regardless of the apparent complexity of some time signatures, and the delightful and challenging angularity and unpredictability of some melodies, all of the music is accessible to the recorder player of intermediate skills and above (Clarke states that the level aimed at is grade 3-5 AMEB standard). And some of the melodies are really stunningly beautiful.