'Simon is a supremely sensitive and tasteful arranger but with that rare gift to convince you that this is how the composer might originally have conceived the music.' Dominic Fyfe (Senior Producer, Decca Classical)
We are delighted to announce representation of Manchester-based composer-pianist Simon Parkin's catalogue of orchestrations, arrangements and reductions of much-loved classical works. Parkin's creative reorchestrations and reductions are used by performers worldwide including Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Jess Gillam, London Symphony Orchestra, Manchester Camerata & Sakura Cello Quintet.
His diverse output ranges from orchestral works right down to duos. Highlights include:
- a chamber orchestra reduction of Chabrier's España;
- a number of reductions for a 13-instrument line-up including Ravel's Boléro, Saint-Saëns' Danse Macabre, Grieg's Morning Mood (from 'Peer Gynt'), extracts from Bizet's Carmen and the whole of Weber's Clarinet Concerto No 2.
- There are also orchestrations for solo instrument and 13 instruments of Debussy's late sonatas for violin and cello.
Smaller-scale repertoire includes:
- Bach's Goldberg Variations (solo piano, Bach's original with a jazz variation on each repeat)
- Butterworth's The Banks of Green Willow (clarinet quintet);
- Elgar's Sospiri (cello and string sextet);
- the finale of Mozart's 40th Symphony (string quintet),
- Dvořák's Song to the Moon (piano quintet),
- Bartók and Elgar arrangements for piano trio,
- cello ensemble arrangements of works by cello virtuoso Alfredo Piatti.
During lockdown, The Watkins Duo (violin and cello) have presented two of Parkin's arrangements as part of the London Symphony Orchestra's Coffee Sessions. The husband-wife duo performed Parkin's takes on both Monti's Czardas and Paganini's 24th Caprice.
And Czardas will feature in The Watkins Duo concert for LSO Summer Shorts on 7 August, broadcast through the LSO's Facebook page here.
More about Simon Parkin, including a complete list of works with viewable scores available from Faber Music here.