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Martin Ellerby

Composer

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    Duration: c. 14 minutes

     

    Audio:

     

     

     

    Publisher: STUDIO MUSIC COMPANY

     

    Programme Notes:

     

    ROYAL WINDSOR PORTRAITS was commissioned by, and is dedicated to, the Regimental Band of Her Majesty’s Coldstream Guards and their Director of Music Lieutenant Colonel Graham O. Jones MBE and in celebration of the Royal Palace of Windsor.

     

    The work is a tribute to ‘Royal Windsor’ and although played in one continuous movement consists of seven sections or cameos:

     

    1. Royal Fanfare and Salute

    A brass fanfare leads into an introductory march setting the scene in a typically British style.

     

    2. Renaissance Court Dance

    The mood is suddenly changed and we are transported back to the court of Henry VIII who also composed the essence of the chorus which is adapted from his Pastyme with Good Companye.

     

    3. Royal Reflection

    The addition of a harpsichord gives an Elizabethan flavour to this reflective interlude. The hymn tune St. George is first presented here, broken up in a calm pure version.

     

    4. Regency Ball

    A waltz in a late 19th century Victorian style.

     

    5. Portrait of a Lady

    A vocal number (‘If Only You Could Say’) after a painting in The King’s Dressing Room by Sir Peter Paul Rubens simply and enigmatically entitled ‘Portrait of a Lady’ – who was she then, where is she now…

     

    6. Procession of the Royal Knights

    Depicting the Ceremony of the Order of the Garter. The texture slowly builds to lead into:

     

    7. St. George’s Hymn and Finale

    Based on the hymn tune St. George (music by G.J. Elvey and text by H. Alford): Come, ye thankful people, come. The opening Salute and Fanfare is then revisited to form a Coda and conclude the work in a grand and noble manner.

     

    Instrumentation:

    Vocal Solo (amplified)

    Piccolo, Flute, Oboe, Bb Clarinets 1.2.3, Bb Bass Clarinet, Bassoon,

    Eb Alto Saxophones 1.2, Bb Tenor Saxophone, Eb Baritone Saxophone,

    Bb Trumpets 1*.2.3.4, F Horns 1.2.3.4, Trombones 1.2.3, Euphonium, Tubas 1.2,

    Double Bass (dbl. Electric Bass Guitar), Piano (dbl. Harpsichord or Synthesizer),

    Timpani, Percussion 1.2

     

    *Bb Tpt. 1 can double on optional B flat Piccolo Trumpet

     

    Percussion Requirements:

    Timpani (doubling Suspended Cymbal, Bass Drum)

     

    2 Percussion - Suspended Cymbal, Clashed Cymbals, Tenor Drum, Triangle, Glockenspiel, Tubular Bells, Xylophone, Side Drum, Vibraphone

     

    Available Recordings:

     

     

    Royal Windsor Portraits

    Click image to view page 1 of the score