List of Works » Chamber Works » Tears, Puffes, Jumps and Galliards
List of Works » Arrangements » Tears, Puffes, Jumps and Galliards

Tears, Puffes, Jumps and Galliards by DAVID BRUCE (after John Dowland)

Instrumentation	Version 1: sopranino recorder dbl. soprano recorder and tenor recorder, string quartet Version 2: Flute dbl. piccolo and alto flute, string quartet
Duration	c.12 mins
World Premiere	Daphna Mor, Metropolis Ensemble, Americas Society, NYC, 5th April 2010
Commission	Commissioned by Metropolis Ensemble
Composed	Jan 2010
Score	Available
Programme note Daphna Mor and members of the Metropolis Ensemble at the premiere of Tears, Puffes, Jumps and Galliards and the Americas Society, New York A set of arrangements for recorder and string quartet of songs and dances by John Dowland. 1. My Lady Hunsdon's Puffe 2. Mr. Langton's Galliard 3. Flow, my tears 4. Round Battle Galliard 5. Go crystal tears 6. Mrs Winters' Jump Tears and laughter seem to be a common mixture in British culture, from Shakespeare, right through to the films of Richard Curtis. The mixture is something I've noticed time and again in my own work (though American born, I am culturally entirely British) without ever consciously placing it there. When I came to making a selection of pieces by John Dowland for this set of arrangements I became aware that Dowland needed to be added to that list of laughing and crying Brits - he is of course famous for his melancholy songs (of which I have included two beautiful examples) but when not in mournful mode his music is light and witty. Even the titles conjur comical images: 'My Lady Hundson's Puffe' and 'Mrs Winters' Jump'. What it is about us British that delights in this mixture of tragedy and laughter I am not sure, but it certainly goes back a long way. I've long hoped to write for recorder within the setting of a modern chamber ensemble and this piece is, I hope, the first step in that direction. I heard Daphna Mor give a dazzling virtuosic cameo performance at a show a mutual friend was giving in Brooklyn last year, and this re-invigorated my desire to write for the instrument. So when Metropolis Ensemble asked me if I was interested in arranging some pieces for string quartet I immediately asked if we could add one extra instrument! The six pieces range from moments of extreme virtuosity to moments of extreme tenderness and include pieces for the highest sopranino recorder, as well as the soprano, alto and tenor recorders.   David Bruce 21 Jan 2010