The Dirty Duck

Cornet Solo and Brass Band

In 2009, Tom Hutchinson commissioned me to write a solo to mark the beginning of his tenure as principal cornet with the Cory Band.  Tom was looking for a solo that was virtuosic in content with jazz influences and something that the audience would enjoy listening to.  The Dirty Duck was the result.

The piece sits firmly within the big band style, taking influence from the dance bands of the 1940’s lead by such greats as Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington and Count Basie.  The thematic material in the work derives from the sprightly cornet lead line but the work also makes use of riff motifs and call and response ideas and relies heavily on the interplay between soloist and ensemble though-out. 

The solo line employs techniques not often seen on brass band scores - pitch bends, growl’s (flutter tongue) and lip glissando’s and is a real tour-de-force for any cornet player. 

The piece takes its name from a small quiet public house, opposite the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-Upon-Avon.

Difficulty: Very Difficult

Duration: 00:04:30

Available from: Prima Vista Musikk Ltd