Colours of Red Tone Poem
Original composition – 1993
The movie shows the opening dance section, performed by the NEO at St Peter’s Church, Salzburg (Festival 1993).
Violin and Piano
Four Movements In A Jazz Idiom
The opening ‘Dance’ contains cross rhythms of 2’s and 3’s with the middle section making much of the interval of the perfect 5th. ‘Quasi Rag’ borrows from 1930’s ragtime, while ‘The Ballad of an Original Theme’ opens with an expressive improvisory violin solo. ‘Blues Plus One’, named after the 13 bar pattern (the standard blues is 12 bars) makes much use of stride piano and there is much interplay between violin and piano.
Listen to a short sample from the 1st movement.
"Danson has succeeded in providing us with an entertaining and effective alternative to standard violin and piano literature. Along the same lines as works by Bolling and Grapelli, the movements are concise, well constructed and rewarding for both players and listeners."
American Music Teacher October/November 1995.
Parts available from Broadbent and Dunn
Brass Quintet Compositions
Intrada
Brass Quintet – 2 Trumpets, Horn, Trombone and Tuba and composed for Mainstreet Brass. This is a short piece consisting of 70 bars of music. There are some striking rhythms and harmonies, and it takes about a minute and a half to play, making it ideal for occasions when an extended fanfare is required. Listen to a short sample, played by Mainstream Brass.
Score and parts available from Broadbent and Dunn
Passages of Time
"Although brass quintets rely heavily on playing arrangements, it is also important to play original works. This work will provide a welcome addition to that original repertoire."
Stephen Wick September 1994
Listen to a sample from the third movement "Time Present": "No Time! No Time! No Time!"
Parts and score available from Broadbent & Dunn
A Christmas Carol – A Dickens of a Tale
Written for Brass Quintet and Narrator. The three movement work lasts 16 minutes and offers a compelling tour of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” with Scrooge’s unforgettable night of soul-searching and salvation. The English carol ‘God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen’ is the basis of the entire piece, and fragments of the piece are artfully woven into the music.
Listen to a short sample played by Mainstreet Brass from their ‘Christmas Spirit’ CD, with Alan Danson narrating.
Score and parts available from Alan Danson
Woodwind Trio Compositions
Three Winds Go West (Ragtime – Cake Walk)
Written for Oboe doubling Cor Anglais, Clarinet and Bassoon
The first in a series of three, each movement of these original settings by Alan Danson presents a ‘quasi cameo’ of the character of its American origins.
‘Ragtime Cakewalk’ suggests the essence and style of this type of dance through the chuckling cor anglais, solid bassoon accompaniment and counter line on the clarinet.
In ‘Cowboy’s Toon’ the bassoon provides a laid back foundation, whilst the clarinet and oboe duet side by side with a line incorporating some of the bending tones one might expect to hear from the cowboy’s drawl.
In ‘Barn Dance’ a sense of team enjoyment is portrayed, with the clarinet line accompanied by high jinks, vocal calls and clapping from the Cor Anglais and Bassoon.
Listen to a sample
Parts and score available from Broadbent & Dunn
Six Miniatures for Double Reed Trio
Oboe, Cor Anglais and Bassoon
Each miniature is a musical character in terms of styles, settings and trends of yesteryear and today and provides a good platform to demonstrate the unique blend of double reed players.
Listen to a sample of “Double Reed Workout”
Parts and score available from Broadbent & Dunn
Horn Quartet Compositions
Celebration Fanfare
[popeye ids=”251″]Originally composed to celebrate the re-opening of a school. The date of which ( 7th March 2007 ) influenced the alternating time signatures within the piece. At 58 secs. in length, it is well suited as an opening item for ceremonial and celebratory occasions.
To see a larger example of the opening of the score, hover your cursor over the image on the right and click the control. To return to this page, hover your cursor over the image again and click the control.
Click the control below to hear a sample
Parts and Score are available from Alan Danson
Introduction and Allegro for Horn Quartet
[popeye ids=”280″]First performed in the foyer of The National Theatre. The work gathers momentum from the rhythmic energy of the opening introduction, and moves swiftly into the Allegro section in a 'flourishing' arpeggiated figure. There is plenty of interaction between parts, and brief solos for horns 2 and 4! The occasional note clusters are a feature of Alan’s writing.
To see a larger example of the opening of the score, hover your cursor over the image on the right and click the control. To return to this page, hover your cursor over the image again and click the control.
Click the control below to hear a sample
Parts and Score are available from Alan Danson
Horn Quartet Compositions, Grade 1 to 5
On The Way (March)
This quartet is the first of two sets intended as a way of providing young horn students with the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the quartet sound and experience.
Listen to a sample
Parts and score available from Broadbent & Dunn
Just For Starters
Good music for beginners. These six miniatures provide the student with plenty of dynamics and a playing range from G below middle C to D, the ninth above middle C. There is a good variety of meters, tempos, rhythmic and melodic content.
Listen to a sample of “Tick-Tock March”
Parts and score available from Broadbent & Dunn