Walmer Suite
Walmer Suite
This suite of five short piano pieces were written or revised whilst I was teaching at a small school in Walmer, Kent. The pieces are all suitable for teaching piano techniques. I was the head of History at the school but also taught History of Music and Music Theory to the older pupils. I also helped out with concerts and other musical events. On my afternoon off I used to play in a chamber ensemble with three of the other teachers from the school. We even performed at the Marshborough Festival.
Prelude
The first movement is the shortest. I originally wrote it in 1972 at the age of 14 but revised it in 1983 for a friend who was learning the piano and wanted some practice in crossed hands. Hear is an electronic MP3 version. If you want to have a go a free downloadable PDF will be appearing in due course.
Saraband
The second movement was written in June 1983 for a friend with whom I sang in the Northbourne Choral Society and who I was helping in her attempts as an adult to pass “O” level music. She then went on to study music with the Open University. If you want to have a go a free downloadable PDF will be appearing in due course.
Chacony
This movement was originally part of the slow movmeent of my Viola Sonata written between 1979 and 1981 and adapted in December 1981 for the piano. If you want to have a go a free downloadable PDF will be appearing in due course.
Pavan
This movement was written for the same person that I adapted the Prelude for and was the last movement to be written, in May 1984, a couple of months before I left Walmer. If you want to have a go a free downloadable PDF will be appearing in due course.
Rhapsody
The finale of the suite was written between December 1983 and May 1984 for the music teacher at the school where I taught who also played in the lunchtime ensemble that I played in. Also attached is a PDF of the score if you fancy having a go at playing it or simply want to follow with the music.
