The Shippen (Parts Only)-WW5

The Shippen for woodwind quintet

by Alan Ridout (1934-1996)

This piece was composed in 1990 in a commission from Edward Thomas, historian, musician, and nephew of the poet. The title refers to the house near Dorking where he lives with his wife, the harpsichordist Ruth Dyson. 

The first movement, with its feeling of energy and enthusiasm, is a portrait of Edward Thomas. The movement makes use of a cipher of the initials of his name: E and F (F being the white-note equivalent of T for Thomas) and those of his wife (D=R for Ruth and another D for Dyson).

The last movement, employing the same motive is a portrait of Ruth, and is a set of variations portraying her many-sidedness. The middle movement portrays their special friend June Emerson, the publisher of this piece.