Michael Berkeley

Catch Me If You Can

Conductor's score and parts on hire

Forces or Category: Wind quintet

Orchestration: fl (+picc & afl), ob, cl, hn, bn

for wind quintet with the flautist also playing piccolo and alto flute
The music follows a Sonatina-like structure with a fast-slow-fast pattern. This opening vivo soon develops into multi-textured ideas and considerable friction. By contrast the centre of the work is slow and uncluttered. The last movement is a chase but with some rather nasty and unexpected twists and turns.

Catch Me If You Can

Conductor's score and parts on hire

Michael Berkeley

Description

Programme Notes:

Catch me if you can was specially written for the Haffner Wind Quintet. It belongs to a group of pieces (including my opera BAA BAA BLACK SHEEP and the solo viola piece Odd Man Out) that are all connected to or inspired by children and in particular their behaviour and their games. What fascinates me is not just the fun or the invention but the elements of kindness and cruelty that often emerge side by side; the combinations of vulnerability and strength, or resignation and ruthlessness.
The music follows a Sonatina-like structure with a fast-slow-fast pattern. Most of the work is based on the notes that make up the short phrase of wide intervals first heard on the bassoon.
This opening vivo soon develops into multi-textured ideas and considerable friction. By contrast the slow, uncluttered centre of the work is, I think, perhaps coloured by recollections of playing Bartok's piano music for children, which certainly brightened up many a tedious hour for me in my schooldays. I especially liked the simple but rather wistful and melancholy folk melodies that so attracted Bartok. The last movement is a chase but once again there are some rather nasty and unexpected twists and turns.
Catch me if you can was commissioned by the National Federation of Music Societies with funds provided by BT and the Arts Council of Great Britain for the Haffner Wind Ensemble of London for the inaugural NFMS/BT Making More of Music Educational Artists Tour 1994.
© Michael Berkeley
Reproduced with permission of Oxford University Press

Catch Me If You Can

Conductor's score and parts on hire

Michael Berkeley

Composer Information