Karen Wimhurst has been commissioned by a wide range of ensembles throughout the UK as well as writing for her own crossover bands.
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Orchestral and Large Ensemble
Floodlines
String orchestra, percussion and solo accordion. Premiere Plymouth Festival of Contemporary music Feb ’08. Commission part of composer in residence post with University of Plymouth 2008.
c.20’
In the Beyond
Suite for Big Band. Commissioned Dorset Music Services. Poole Lighthouse 2006
Jazz Orchestra, 1 narrator
c.20
WP: DYJO 2006
Silver Messenger
Soprano solo, SATB chorus, chamber ensemble (vn, vn,vc,db,a.sax),organ, perc ensemble(8inc.4 timp), wind band.
c.1 hour
WP. Frances Lynch sop, Confluence ensemble , Dorset youth percussion and wind band 2001
City
2(pic)222/4221/timp.2 perc/str
c.5’
WP: Welsh National Opera 2008
Crocodile
Soprano solo, brass band.2 perc
c. 5 mins
2008
Ganges
Chamber ensemble(pic, s.sax, tpt,tbn.tba) percussion ensemble (4 timp, 4 s.drum), wind band.c.7’
WP confluence ensemble, Dorset youth percussion and wind band 2001
Wedding
String orchestra
c.10
In Times of Flood
Work for string orchestra, drum kit and solo accordion. Commissioned by the Chard Festival of Women in Music and premiered by Karen Tweed, Solid Strings at Chard Festival 2000.
Falling and Down Under
Coma South commission .For mixed ensemble First performances Reading South St. Arts Centre and Southampton Arts March 2002.
Downstream
Work for Bournemouth Sinfonietta wind nonet and sound track. Commissioned by Common Ground. Premiere June ’99.
wind nonet 1 (aft) 2(ca)2(bcl)2(cb) soundtrack c.40’WP.Bournemouth Sinfonietta 1999
Chamber Pieces
Memory Like Shells
String quartet, narrator. Composed alongside war veteran Norman Winchester. Allegri String Quartet
The Ring
Work for string quartet, singer, trapeze act, synchronised swimmers and chorus. Commissioned by Sea Change. Premiere Norwich and Norfolk Festival, October 1999.
Knocking On
String Quartet
c.5’
WP.McFalls Chamber 2005
Trapeze
String Quartet
c. 12 ‘
WP.McFalls Chamber 2001
Air and Waves
Composer in residence with An Tobar Arts, March 2002 featuring new commission for Mcfalls, commissioned by Scottish Chamber Orchestra and strings quartets written in collaboration with young people at An Tobar. Broadcast 15/5/2002 and 16/5/2002 BBC radio 3. Premiered the Bongo Club Edinburgh 5/5/2002.
Pois Chiches
String quartet. Commissioned by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Premiere March ’98.
Circus in a Square
String Quartet
c. 12 ‘
WP.McFalls Chamber 2001
Exposed Island
Work for Scottish Flute Trio and guitarist Allan Neave with poet Pauline Prior Pitt. Commissioned by Warwick Arts Festival. Premiere July 14th 2001. Scottish tour 2001/2002. Warwick Arts Festival 2005.
3 ft(aft),guitarc.12’WP. Scottish Flute Trio, guitarist Allan Neave, poet Pauline Prior Pitt. 2005,2003
The Arc of Possibility
Solo soprano, brass quintet
c.10’
WP. Catriona Barr,Onyx Brass Ensemble 2007.
Genista
Three pieces for Clarinet and Piano
Wind Up
Jazz quartet, Voice Clarinet, Guitar and Double Bass (Misbehavin')
Out There In Time
Jazz quartet, Voice Clarinet, Guitar and Double Bass (Misbehavin')
As and When
Clarinet and accordion (Pagoda Project)
Current Affairs
Clarinet and accordion (Pagoda Project)
Fruit of Paradise
Celebrating Common Ground’s 21st anniversary of Apple Day this evening traces the exotic journey of the apple from the Tien Shang mountains near Kazkstahn into our British orchards. This is a contemporary folk tale featuring ballad singer Emily Portman, accordionist Paul Hutchinson, violinist John Hymas, composer/clarinettist Karen Wimhurst and can include a children’s choir
Grey Coming
Piano and Clarinet
Fanfares for Stur
3 fanfares for Brass quintet
Night Halo
3 pieces for wind quintet.
Baylis Lecture
Works composed with senior residents in care homes in Westminster. Subject of Baylis Lecture.
Fishnets 1 and 2
Pieces for clarinet and piano.
The 4K Plot
Clarinet , accordion (Wimhurst Tweed)
River Songs
Wind quintet and mezzo soprano OR flute trio and mezzo soprano
And He Shall Have Music
Piano solo
Waterbirds
Work for the Watershed trio. Commissioned by Common Ground. Premiered May 2000.
Grind and Dissolve
Work for ‘Watershed’ (clarinet, cello, double bass). Commissioned by Common Ground. Premiere June ’99
Fragility of Flight
Fine art film and soundtrack with artist Keith McIntyre. Conceived on North Uist in Scotland. Touring with clarinet trio 2008 Western Isles. Poole Study Gallery Oct 2008; Plymouth Darwin Festival 2009. Grant from the Scottish Arts Council
Picasso Suite
Clarinet, guitar, accordion
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Fanfare
Brass quintet
c. 3’
WP.Crump quintet 2008
Big Heids
Brass quintet
c.10’
Dissolving Islands
ft, aft, ct,vib,vib.
6’
Pois Chiches
String Quartet
c. 12 ‘
WP.McFalls Chamber 2001
Here We Are
2 clarinets and piano
c. 4’
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Fanfare for a Flourishing Embryo
a.fl, cl, b cl,perc,vib,pno,vln,vc
c.5’
Cauld Blast Orchestra
Founded in 1990 by Karen Wimhurst and won The Jazz Critics Award, Edinburgh Festival 1990, and the Scottish Arts Council Award for a commission in August 1999
Song and Dance Man
(arrangements of Mahler Symphonies)
string quartet, cl(bcl),accord.
Falling Down Under
Variable Ensemble
c. 8’
WP. Coma ensemble 2002
Melbury Springs
cl(bcl),vc,db, tibetan gongs, water bowls, soundtrack
c.20’
WP. Watershed(Wimhurst, Dickie, Miles) Frank Perry 2000
Carmens Fleeting Dream
Prepared Piano
He Shall Have Dancing Wherever He Goes
solo pn.
4’
Wimhurst 2008
Reel within Veils
ct,accord
3’
WP. Karen Tweed, Karen Wimhurst
Three Short Pieces
ct,accord
3’