A FEW DAYS op.6 (November 1962)

The score for Howard Blake's film 'A Few Days', which he also wrote and directed
Published by: Highbridge Music Ltd
Instrumentation: Flute, clarinet, harp and piano

[Key to Abbreviations]
Note on Lyrics: Spoken 'stream of consciousness' voice-over by HB
Duration: 20 mins
First Performance: National Film Theatre, 1962.
Sheet Music Available
Instrumental / piano score for sale
Instrumental parts for sale

Movements

  • 1: Party theme - Mambo (for flute, clarinet and piano) (1962) 2 minutes
  • 2: Romantic theme (for Flute, Clarinet and Harp) (1962) 3 minutes
  • 3: Blues (for clarinet and piano) (1962) 2 minutes
  • 4: Dramatic scene (for clarinet and piano) (1962) 2 minutes

Notes

Howard wrote, directed and edited a 16mm film called 'A Few Days' whilst working at The National Film Theatre in 1961/2. He also wrote the 'stream of consciousness' voice-over and composed the music score. The film was given four public performances in the main theatre of the NFT from April 25th 1962 as a short before the Humphrey Bogart feature 'The Maltese Falcon'. Following this performance the film was acquired by The British Film Institute Film Library.

In 1964 Howard was approached by the music publishers Chappell and Co. who suggested that he might revise the Romantic Theme (2. Allegro) from the film and use it to create a first movement of a trio, also suggesting that it would be more 'useful' if the harp part could be replaced by piano. Howard agreed to this and composed the 2nd movement (Andante-Waltz-Andante) and 3rd movement (Allegro). The completed work was published by Chappell's imprint 'Music for Education' (Music for instrumental ensemble) in 1964 as "Trio for Flute, Clarinet and Piano'' (opus 25) In 1961 Chappell's had published Howard's 'Fantasy Allegro' - a trio for Flute/or Oboe/or B flat clarinet, Bassoon and Piano in their 'Music for Woodwind Ensemble' series; 'Party Pieces' - a suite for pianoforte; and 'Burlesca' for violin and pianoforte. The splendid premises of Chappell and Co. at this time were at 50 Bond Street and it was a great tragedy that not so much later the building burnt down destroying original manuscripts and extensive archives. The publications by Highbridge Music are reprinted from Howard's original materials.

Related Works


'TRIO FOR FLUTE CLARINET AND PIANO' op.25 (January 1964)
A Trio In Three Movements derived from the music of Howard's film 'A few days'
'PIANO TRIO' op.524 (2001)
Concert piece in 3 movements for violin, cello and piano - an arrangement of the trio for flute, clarinet and piano (op.25)
'Trio For Flute, Viola and Piano' op.524A (January 2001)
Concert piece in 3 movements - an arrangement of the trio for flute, clarinet and piano (op.25)
'Trio For Flute, Cello and Harp' op.559 (September 2005) (Audio Sample Available)
Concert piece in 3 movements - an arrangement of the trio for flute, clarinet and piano (op.25)
'TRIO FOR FLUTE, CLARINET AND HARP' op.598 (May 2009)
Concert piece in 3 movements - an arrangement of the trio for flute, clarinet and piano (op.25)

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