Serenade Op. 57
Richard ARNELL (b.1917)

Written in 1949, this charming work scored for double woodwind quintet with double bass was written to the memory of Karl Haas, a German musician best known for his radio programme Adventures in Good Music.  Cast in four short movements, this work takes the listener through a range of moods.

The first movement, Prelude, is somewhat somber and serious, ending unexpectedly on three B minor chords. The Scherzo (literally “joke”) develops a delightful, jaunty tune stated right at the outset by the clarinet, whilst the third movement, Canzona (literally “song”) features dactyllic rhythms (long short short) which serve as basic building blocks of some of Arnell’s beautiful lyricism. The final movement Ballet, is light and elegant, at times even humourous, though Arnell maintains a strong concept of lyricism throughout. The work ends conclusively and contentedly in the key of C major.

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