Orchestration
2 Flutes, 2 Oboes, 2 Clarinets in Bb, 2 Bassoons, 4 Horns in F, 2 Trumpets in Bb, 3 Trombones, Timpani, Percussion (2 players: Tambourine, Cymbal [susp], Glockenspiel, Snare drum), Strings (Violin 1, Violin 2, Viola, Cello [including solo], Bass)
This work was written for Jean Waller, principal 'cellist of the Southampton Orchestra and commissioned for her birthday on July 18th 1996 by her husband Patrick. As the composer's birthday falls on the same date, Judith Bailey took the Chinese proverb 'Keep a green bough in your heart and the singing bird will come' as a source of inspiration for the piece, using the element of 'water' (appertaining to Cancer, the Crab) for her first theme in the solo woodwind, and 'ruby', the Cancerian birthstone, as the sharp-edged second theme for the solo brass.
The soloists in the 'concerto' (for flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, trumpet, trombone and 'cello) are drawn from the orchestra with the part for 'cello solo, written for Jean to play, linking the various sections of the work. These players could be seated together at the front of the orchestra in soloist fashion, if desired.
Duration 15 minutes
A PACK comprises one full score, all wind brass and percussion parts and strings 4/4/3/4/2.
A CD recording is available on EM Records EMR CD026 with Judith Bailey's 'Havas - A Period of Summer'