Paul Lewis

On May 30th 2004, a few days after completing my Concerto Burlesco for bassoon and small orchestra, I attended a concert given by bassoonist Alison Woodward, known to her friends as 'Poppy'. The ensui...

The two sentimental songs hark back in style to the palm court music played in seaside hotels in days gone by. Paul Lewis writes 'The bassoon is for me primarily an instrument of poetry and passion, a...

Three waltzes: Valse Nostalgique and Two Valses Pastiches - Valse Sentimentale and Valse Brave. Also see Paul Lewis' Saturday Night Jazz Suite for harp.

A suite of three pieces in light jazzy styles: 1.Jazzette 2.Blues for Harpo 3.Blue Fiver. The final movement (a homage to Dave Brubeck) is included in the new Associated Board Harp Examinations syllab...

Magyar Dance; Maidens' Dance; Peasant Dance; Lamentation; Gypsy Dance. Paul Lewis's mother, who died in 2005 aged 93, was a half-Russian violinist who, whilst in her twenties, led her own ensemble 'Ph...

In 1998, inspired by close acquaintance with two antique gilded harps, I decided to compose a work in a style that would remind them of their younger days! To think myself into a thoroughly Regency fr...

Four Jazz Age Dances for harp. 'Decospherics' is the name of a circle of ebullient Art Deco enthusiasts revolving around the fabulous Art Deco Weekends in Napier, New Zealand. Every year devotees of t...

A sometimes quirky collection of jazzy little numbers and reminiscences of the vintage rock-n-roll era from the composer of the well-known 'Saturday Night Jazz Suite' for pedal harp. Paul Lewis was in...

Bologna is known as la Dotta, la Grassa, la Rossa - the Learned, the Fat, the Red. These three musical postcards are evocations of these three facets and are dedicated to harpist Gabriella Dall'Olio,...

An inevitable consequence of a long career as a professional composer is a bottom drawer (and in my case several boxes) full of works begun and never finished and others finished but forgotten. Siftin...

Four short improvisations on the popular Welsh air, framed by an even briefer Introduction and Coda. INTRODUCTION: In Celtic mythology the ash is associated with fairies. The Introduction, entirely in...

Valse Lente was inspired by a film scenario by actor Tom Burke and was first published as a theremin solo with piano accompaniment [Goodmusic GM356]. This solo harp version was made for harpist Alexan...

Cantilena is the love theme from the first and last movements of my Concerto Romantico for harp and strings. It is presented here as a solo piece for harpists who may wish to play it without the assis...

October 2022 did not go to plan. The month had been eagerly anticipated but the Fates had ideas of their own. My wife and I had long been looking forward to hosting the brilliant French harpist Maia D...

It was in Tauranga, New Zealand, that I bought my friend Ian Scott's CD of British clarinet concertos, listened to it, and spontaneously began this work. 1. PERAMBULATION This movement reflects the co...

An effective piece between romantic and jazzy, reminiscent of circus music in places. Originally composed by Paul Lewis for harmonica, the successful short work was arranged for various instruments by...

Russian Scenes are pictures of the old Russia my forbears would have known. The melodies are simple and folk-like, the middle movement being a lament, something which the possession of Russian blood e...

This haunting melody came out of the ether one day as if tailor-made for the theremin with its other-worldly quality, and is therefore dedicated to the eminent theremin virtuoso Charlie Draper. Valse...

A Flirtation of Fiddles is a jazzy, fun work written originally for flute quartet. Flirtation has always been one of my favourite pastimes, so the piece is possibly, even probably, autobiographical. '...

Orchestration Solo Bassoon Flute (doubling piccolo), Oboe, Clarinet in Bb, Horn in F, Timpani (doubling susp.cymbal), Percussion (one player: Susp.cymbal, Snare drum, Tambourine, Tam-tam, 3 Wood block...

Orchestration: Violin 1, Violin 2, Viola, Cello, Bass, Harp A suite of six movements depicting scenes around Seaford in Sussex. THE CUCKMERE The river Cuckmere flows gracefully down the slopes of the...