Your Recorder Community

Mere Bagatelle IV is from a series of short, playful pieces for various combinations of recorders. Each bagatelle is a study of a particular compositional technique; in this case, the alternation of major, minor, diminished, and augmented triads without reference to their usual diatonic functions. The interval of the tritone is pervasive. The piece might be likened in some ways to Down the Piste from Benjamin Britten’s Alpine Suite (SSA). However, Britten’s tempo indication does not readily admit double tonguing, so the feeling of a downhill rush is not particularly apparent unless consciously injected. In Mere Bagatelle IV on the other hand, the designated tempo (q=132) inevitably requires light double tonguing throughout. If preferred, Alto III may be played on the tenor.