Don't assume too much - it's a computer!

[MrGongGong]

MacKeeper is to be avoided at all costs
"don't even look at it" N Tufnel

http://www.imore.com/avoid-mackeeper

[Bryn]

Perhaps they just don't like the music.

Oops. My mistake. It had indeed presented me with an advertisement (in a new window hidden beneath the one I was viewing). The ad. was for WIlliam Hill. That was when I download the 2nd movement. The window that came with the 3rd movement was identified as malware by Avast! Internet Security, which fortunately blocked it.

Hmm, I also found this.

[Dave2002]

Hmm, I also found this.

So not suspicious, but could be a problem for some, it seems. 0.189 % = 184/97109*100 % were flagged as containing malware, which is a lowish value. Not so much fun if some of the nastier things do get installed and start wreaking havoc though. I'm not too clear about the distinction between viruses, exploits and trojans though - particularly exploits. What is meant by an "exploit"?

Trojans are more or less damaging - perhaps depending on their profile. Some may take a while to kick in - just lurking for a while, while others may cause problems as soon as they are activated.

[Bryn]

I have mainly had annoying adware via them, with just the one malware incident (which was successfully blocked) so far.

[Serial_Apologist]

A most enjoyable piece, Pabs - and for me the first of several listens to come. The character of your music shines through the minor shortcomings of the computerised sound; Finzi would have been proud to hear his influence living on; Howells too, I think. It will sound great with a good soloist and string orchestra: thanks ever so much for sharing it with us.

[Pabmusic]

Thanks to SA and Antongould for their kind comments.

[antongould]

Is there no way one of our technical stars can produce a combined file that we can download and keep???

[Pabmusic]

Is there no way one of our technical stars can produce a combined file that we can download and keep???

I'm very happy if anyone wants to do that, but you can download the three files (.wav) from Mediafire already and then put them in iTunes ot whatever.

If you have problems, I'll attempt to send them to you via Dropbox or something.

[Pabmusic]

I have had no fewer than five (!) PMs, all asking to hear more. I can't say how chuffed I am. Trouble is, although I'm very slowly transcribing my old stuff to computer, it's a dreadfully slow process (partly because I'm also doing new things) and the Clarinet Concerto is the biggest 'serious' piece I've done as yet. The other main 'big' works are a Symphony (1975 - undigested Sibelius and Prokofiev. It's not so big anyway - perhaps Sinfonetta might be a better title), the Fantasy Variations (1983 - about 15 minutes for orchestra), the Horn Sonata (1976), an Overture (1995 - quite Barber-ish - School for Scandal-type) three orchestral suites (Little Suite, 1995; Bridal Suite, 2010; and Where Once We Danced (1984, revised 2013), Shenandoah for cello and orchestra (1993), and The Leaving of Liverpool (fantasia on seasongs) for wind band (2014). Where Once We Danced and The Leaving of Liverpool are the only ones of these I've put onto computer - see below - although they've all been performed in their time. However, I've done a lot of 'lighter' pieces and several of them are on computer.

Well, I've scoured the archives and have uploaded passable versions of several pieces. Here are the links (beginning with a slightly updated version of the Clarinet Concerto:

Concerto for clarinet & strings, op. 30 (1979)

Mvt 1: http://www.mediafire.com/listen/nb7b...._Preludio.wav

Mvt 2: http://www.mediafire.com/listen/z41t...I._Romanza.wav

Mvt 3: http://www.mediafire.com/listen/9jma...do-Scherzo.wav

Suite, 'Where Once We Danced", op. 35 (1984-2013)

Movements: Counter-dance & Jig; Pavan & Galliard; Chacony; Round Dance; Air; Hornpipe. This is a sort of Enigma because each movement is for a friend. Mrs Pabs is the Pavan & Galliard (subtitled Pearl of the Orient and My Ladye's Fancy), Mrs Pabs Mark 1 is the Chacony, and my daughter is the Air, begun on the day she was born, finished a week later). The most recent is the Round Dance (The Doctor's Delight) written in one day in 2012.

https://www.mediafire.com/folder/w397n5w3vknkv/Where_Once_We_Danced

Festival Fanfare (2015) for wind band

For international wind band event at Liverpool Hope University, November 2015 (also, I believe, for their graduation ceremonies in July)

http://www.mediafire.com/listen/kbulhoq6znu7x64/Festival_Fanfatre.wav

The Leaving of Liverpool (2014)

Fantasia on seasongs for wind band

http://www.mediafire.com/listen/7lzb3cvvi09mgdw/The_Leaving_of_Liverpool.wav

Mr Bunting Goes To Town (1981)

Written for the first Mrs Pabs (clarinet) and two friends (flute & bassoon) to play during a busking session in the Burlington Arcade, Mayfair. Has appeared since in many guises; this is for wind band (2015)

http://www.mediafire.com/listen/29re6skd3d0tkt6/Mr_Bunting_Goes_To_Town_(sounds).wav

Globetrotter (1995)

Little orchestral piece for a friend who enjoyed travelling.

http://www.mediafire.com/listen/7yo1513692f7fhs/Globetrotter.wav

Peanuts (1997)

Another wind band piece that's quite tricky as it's mostly in ⅞

http://www.mediafire.com/listen/qq8mkovwi34blnz/Peanuts.wav

Little Train To Nowhere Special (2015)

Another wind band piece commissioned by Liverpool Hope. The main tune came to the present Mrs Pabs in a dream in 2007. She woke me up so I could write it down! But I did little with it till a rather senior person at Liverpool Hope (aka the first Mrs Pabs) asked me for something for November. So the present Mrs Pabs and I have been working at it - by which I mean that I've been writing; Mrs Pabs has been criticising. It's near completion, but it's still 'work in progress'.

http://www.mediafire.com/listen/dhhngklnftz2h8v/Little_Train_to_Nowhere_Special.wav

Dvorak: American Sinfonietta[/URL]

As you know, I have made several orchestral arrangements of things. Well here's Dvorak's American Quartet scored for moderate-sized orchestra. This hasn't been performed yet, but it was great fun to do.

https://www.mediafire.com/folder/jbofz37fpjcvl/Dvorak_Sinfonietta

And finally...

Two of you asked more about my 'unusual' domestic situation. Well, it's not particularly strange - my two best friends are my present- and my ex-wives. So here's some photos - all cleared by the interested parties (I wouldn't dare post them without!).

First, Mrs Pabs and me last March at the Trafford Centre in Manchester:



Then Mrs Pabs Mk 1 as she was when we met (and I wrote the concerto for her):



And when she graduated from the RCM:



And practising (sitting down! Which she always forbade pupils!):



And finally, Pabs and his daughter (I can't believe I held her like that!);





What a truly self-indulgent post this has been.

[Sir Velo]

Goodness me, it's Gustav Holst to the life! And writing for wind band as well.

[Pabmusic]

Goodness me, it's Gustav Holst to the life! And writing for wind band as well.

I really had never thought...

[BBMmk2]

What a lookalike! :)

[Pabmusic]

The Concerto is now published:

https://repertoire-explorer.musikmph.de/product/brookes-phillip/

(Clarinet & piano version also available)

[Pabmusic]

[french frank]

Congratulations, Pabs We shall be humming it in the streets …