Samba..alla Turca! has been one of my most popular scores and has appeared in many different versions - both for large ensemble, and for more intimate-sized combinations.

In a good number of cases, I have produced popular stock versions - for example, Wind Quintet, Wind Band, Flute & Piano, or Piano Duet.

But from time to time I have been asked for 'bespoke' versions, some of which have been for quite interesting combinations, even at times, bizarre.

A good few years ago I produced a version of Samba..alla Turca! for Flute and Piano for a musical colleague, flautist and woodwind teacher - Lynsey Blair - and, like a good number of friends I have, the initial contact has been via my original scores or arrangements, which is essentially of greater importance than how many copies of this, or that piece I might have sold!

A short while ago, Lynsey got back in touch to ask whether I had a version for Two Flutes & Piano, which, in fact, I didn't have.

Whenever I make a new version, for many reasons, I'll add little bits here and there, so that, just as the instrumentation is different, so each version is tailor-made, so to speak, each time. Obviously the basic mold is the same, but what might suit a flute doesn't always sit well for a clarinet, or where double-stopping, for example, is a feature of strings, but strictly not possible, say, on a bassoon!

Of course, a version for Two Flutes & Piano, makes better sense than one, say, for bagpipes, violin and accordion, in terms of commercial viability, but within reason I'm happy to accommodate most people's specification.

Lynsey also asked for a similar version of one of my most-popular pieces - The Lone Ar-ranger! - and I was happy to produce this for her, too!

The dedication - To Lynsey and Molly - is for Lynsey, and her flute-playing student and colleague, Molly Hunt in Chester.