In its original form, Skunk was first performed by David Childs and Simon Parkin on January 26th 2001 at the RNCM Festival of Brass. Following subsequent revisions, the work later received its official premiere on January 7th 2004 in London's Purcell Room on the South Bank, performed by David Childs and pianist Harvey Davies.

 

Composed in a jazz-rock idiom the work seeks to explore both the technical and lyrical boundaries of the euphonium soloist and pianist. The music is rhythmically complex throughout and following a return to the original material; Skunk comes to an abrupt end with a series of fortissimo grunt noises depicting the sound a skunk might make! 

 

This publication comes complete with composer biography and performance tips from David Childs