Sinfonietta No. 4

Philip Sparke’s Sinfonietta No. 4 is comprised of three parts that are played as an uninterrupted whole. The _x001F_first movement begins with a lyrical fugato passage, framing a brisker and more rhythmical middle section. The second movement is slower and contains a long and expressive euphonium solo. The third movement is a salute to the sponsor of this commission: various percussion instruments conjure up sounds reminiscent of a carpenter’s workshop, accompanied by a unison orchestral passage in a scat style.