Digital Sheet Music [PDF]: Score
Dance of the Poulaines : for recorder quartet [eScore] / Benjamin Thorn.
by Benjamin Thorn (2026)
- DIGITAL PRODUCT: This item is sold as digital sheet music - View an example
- Purchase Price: $10.00 (Available for immediate download) — Add to Cart
- Library Availability: This item is not available from the Australian Music Centre Library
- Instrumentation: Soprano, alto, tenor, bass recorders.
-
Digital Library -- View full score online
— Members: Login to access full score
— Not a member? Become a member online and access the Digital Library immediately
Product details
Poulaines were the medieval shoes with long pointed (and sometimes curled) toes. The title therefore evokes both the medieval feel of the piece and, because of the asymmetrical 5/8 rhythm perhaps the ungainliness of such fashion faux pas. 5/8 is in fact one of my favourite time signatures, particularly because of the way you can manipulate the 3+2 division into 2+3 to give a melody a lovely rhythmic impulse.
The piece makes use of the timbral variation of singing (in unison or at any convenient octave) into the recorder, mainly in accompaniment parts. This is done to broaden the timbral range of the piece. It is not a representation of the groans of those who wore the poulaines, though archeology suggests that bunions were frequent in the eras when the shoes were popular. In this piece you should use a gentle voice that just slightly colours the recorder sound. Other pieces (The voice of the crocodile for instance) require a more aggressive vocal sound. If you don't feel confident singing into your recorder the piece will work perfectly well if just played straight. But do give it a go.
Whenever a piece is called a dance always think about how you would move to it. Embodying the feel of the dance will help create the right musical effect.
Published by: Australian Music Centre — 1 digital (PDF) facsimile score (3p. -- A4 (portrait))
Difficulty: Medium
Duration: 2 mins
Typeset edition.
Related products
This work is also available in the following products:
- Browse other works for Quartets: 4 Recorders
- Browse other works by Benjamin Thorn
User reviews
Be the first to share your thoughts, opinions and insights about this item.
To post a comment please login
