Musikwerk

Music for a puppet court

"In 1972, I arranged the Lloyd canons for a small instrumental ensemble, and the following year added two short variations of my own. Music for a Puppet Court, compleated in August 1983, is a recomposition and expansion of this two-fold material, scored for an antiphonally divided chamber orchestra."

"Music for a Puppet Court consists in part of two arrangements of Puzzle-canons found in a Court songbook dating from the early years of Henry VIII's reign (British Museum Add. Ms. 31922). The two canons are attributed to the early 16th century composer John LLoyd (died 1523), canti fermi (tenors), which are not notated except for crossword-like clues, which I have given in full at the head of the respective movements."