Back in 2000, I made an arrangement for piano duet of the Charleston and Black Bottom Dances. It was originally written for a 20s Evening in aid of Multiple Sclerosis, and first performed by myself and Sheila Wood, whose husband unfortunately suffers from the illness. It has been played on a number of occasions since, and is always a popular encore piece. The final reprise has a definite music-hall feel to it, I think!

Recently I was asked by Robert Hofer, of the ... (more)

Back in 2000, I made an arrangement for piano duet of the Charleston and Black Bottom Dances. It was originally written for a 20s Evening in aid of Multiple Sclerosis, and first performed by myself and Sheila Wood, whose husband unfortunately suffers from the illness. It has been played on a number of occasions since, and is always a popular encore piece. The final reprise has a definite music-hall feel to it, I think!

Recently I was asked by Robert Hofer, of the Austrian Brass Quintet, for whom I'd made some previous arrangements, whether I'd do one of this piece for his quintet, as they were planning to include it on their new CD, to be recorded early next year.

I was delighted to do this for them, and whilst it follows the original arrangement closely, I have not simply repeated each section, but allowed the main instrumets each to have their turn in playing the 'tune'. I've also been able to incoroporate a few idiosyncratic brass techniques along the way!

A further version for Wind Quintet seemed a natural progression. Again, I have largely modelled this on the Brass Quintet arrangement, but there are some changes, especially to accommodate the woodwind's different potential, as well as a very short 'counter-melody' for horn added at one point!

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