Hornpipe Variations
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Composer: Harris, Paul
Instrumentation: 2 Flutes and 2 Clarinets
Publisher:
| Product Code: | 979-0-708-08623-9 |
| ISMN: | 979-0-708-08623-9 |
| Publishers Number: | QT123 |
| Language: | English |
| Page count: | 12 |
| Condition: | New |
Paul Harris studied the clarinet at the Royal Academy of Music with Professor John Davies, winning the August Manns Prize for outstanding playing; composition with Timothy Baxter, and conducting with Maurice Miles. He then went on to study music education at the University of London where he was a pupil of Professor Keith Swanwick.
He now has over six hundred publications to his name; among them The Music Teacher’s Companion, which won the UK Music Industry Award for Best New Book, the Improve Your Scales!, Improve Your Practice!, Improve Your Aural! and Improve Your Sight-Reading! series (published by Faber Music), through which he has assisted thousands of young players worldwide to develop these vital musical skills. He is a gifted composer who writes appealing music for players of all abilities and ages and has written many other works ranging from innumerable short education pieces to seven concertos, a ballet and a children’s opera.
He now has over six hundred publications to his name; among them The Music Teacher’s Companion, which won the UK Music Industry Award for Best New Book, the Improve Your Scales!, Improve Your Practice!, Improve Your Aural! and Improve Your Sight-Reading! series (published by Faber Music), through which he has assisted thousands of young players worldwide to develop these vital musical skills. He is a gifted composer who writes appealing music for players of all abilities and ages and has written many other works ranging from innumerable short education pieces to seven concertos, a ballet and a children’s opera.
Paul writes regularly for many of the major international music magazines, including Music Teacher, BBC Music Magazine, the ABRSM’s Libretto, and the American ICA Journal. He is in great demand as a workshop and seminar leader and adjudicator in the UK, the USA and the Far East, Australia and New Zealand. Paul has also undertaken research into specialist music education for the highly talented (the clarinet prodigy Julian Bliss number among his pupils), an interest that has taken him to many musical institutions around the world.
He is an examiner and adjudicator and is frequently asked to take part in national events including the Chamber Music for Schools Competition, Music for Youth, the BBC Young Musician of the Year and he is a regular judge for Classic FM’s teacher of the Year. He has also recently co-authored (with Anthony Meredith) major new biographies of the British composer Sir Malcolm Arnold (Malcolm Arnold: Rogue Genius), the late Master of The Queen’s Music, Malcolm Williamson (Malcolm Williamson – A Mischievous Muse) and Sir Richard Rodney Bennett.
Paul’s innovative teaching techniques, especially his concept of Simultaneous Learning, have found support all over the world and combine thoroughness, imagination and practicality; the defining qualities of his outstandingly successful work.
Hornpipe Variations is a light hearted parody in true Paul Harris style. Fairly easy and great fun in this arrangement for two flutes and clarinets.
Paul…
Hornpipe Variations is a light hearted parody in true Paul Harris style. Fairly easy and great fun in this arrangement for two flutes and clarinets.
Paul Harris’s “Hornpipe Variations” is a delightful and whimsical composition that showcases his signature blend of musical wit and accessibility
The hornpipe, historically associated with British maritime culture, is known for its lively rhythm and jaunty character.
Harris takes this familiar form and infuses it with playful twists, crafting a series of variations that explore different moods and textures while maintaining a buoyant spirit.
Each variation offers performers a chance to engage with contrasting dynamics, articulation styles, and ensemble interplay, making it both fun and musically enriching.
Though the technical demands are considered fairly easy, the piece is far from simplistic.
Harris’s clever writing encourages expressive phrasing and tight coordination among players, making it ideal for intermediate-level ensembles or educational settings.
What sets “Hornpipe Variations” apart is its charm. Harris doesn’t just write music—he tells stories through sound.
The variations might evoke images of sailors dancing, mischievous antics on deck, or even a stately promenade interrupted by comic interludes.
It’s this narrative quality, paired with accessible technique, that makes the piece a favourite among woodwind players.
Whether performed in a recital, classroom, or community concert, “Hornpipe Variations” brings smiles and toe-taps.
It’s a celebration of tradition with a wink—and a perfect example of how Paul Harris continues to make classical music approachable, engaging, and full of character.
R.R.P 6.95
Our Price: 5.91
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