Saga Of The Three Ships

Okay, we admit it, this one was a lot of fun to produce, and we think it will be a unique performance piece for your recorder program. Don't be scared off by the powerful nature of the recording – this piece can be played effectively by even young, beginning players.

The arrangement itself is a study in contrasts, opening with a lovely repeating line performed beautifully by Sandy Williams on acoustic and 12-string guitars. The orchestra ebbs and flows until the recorders enter to play the melody in a slow quarter note fashion. (One reason we did this setting was because doing the more rousing 6/8 version of the song would be all but impossible for young recorder players.) The backgrounds get richer and the harmonies more lush until BAM! – we find ourselves in a powerful anthem-like rock interlude which gets bigger and louder, then... nothing. We're back to just quiet guitars again. Take that, "Surprise Symphony"! :-)

As we often do with our more symphonic recorder arrangements, we have written this for two soprano recorders and an optional alto recorder. The way it is orchestrated, the performance will sound great with any or all of the parts. Soprano recorder 1 is more difficult, sticking mainly to the melody, while soprano recorder 2 requires just G, A, B, and C.

By all means, before you perform the piece, play the full version of the work for your classes, asking them to listen for the various instruments and the contrasts discussed above. (A condensed score of the arrangement is available as a downloadable PDF.) Can they hear the difference between flugelhorns in the more mellow sections and the trumpets in the rock interlude? Listen carefully to what the strings do throughout. And they should know that the same player who played the classical guitar work at the opening is the same player who does the soaring solo during the interlude. Enjoy the listening, and play it as loud as possible without distortion.