The Pied Piper for Solo Flute and Piccolo

This piece tells the story of the Pied Piper of Hamlyn. The Spell for solo flute weaves its magic around intervals of 7ths which become increasingly more agitated before subsiding to an uncertain calm. The March is much more robust, characterized by strong rhythms and varied articulation. Although the piccolo does not venture above a top G there is plenty of excitement generated by loud colours, trills and a virtuoso ending. This is a wonderful piece that is a great example of how to manage both instruments one work.

This is in the excellent Trinity Grade 8 book after being out of print for a long time. The first movement The Spell is beautiful and moving; the brilliant March to the River Weser is written for picc. Why do so few people play this? It was my audition piece for the CBSO, when I didn’t get the job in 1962 because Hugo Rignold said I would drive the First Flute mad!