Les Indes Galantes (French: "The Amorous Indies") is an opera by Jean-Philippe Rameau with a libretto by Louis Fuzelier. It takes the form of an op�ra-ballet with a prologue and (in its final form) four entr�es (acts). Following an allegorical prologue, the four entr�es have distinct and separate plots, but are unified by the theme of love in exotic places (The Ottoman Empire, Peru, Persia, and North America). The most famous pieces from the work, Danse des Sauvages and the final Chaconne, come from the final entr�e (Les sauvages).

The premiere, including only the prologue and the first two of its four entr�es (acts), was staged by the Acad�mie Royale de Musique at itstheatre in the Palais-Royal in Paris on 23 August 1735, starring the leading singers of the Op�ra, Marie Antier, Marie P�lissier, Mlle Err�mans, Mlle Petitpas, Denis-Fran�ois Tribou, Pierre J�lyotte, and Claude-Louis-Dominique Chass� de Chinais, and the dancers Marie Sall� and Louis Dupr�. Michel Blondy provided the choreography. The ballet's Premier Menuet was used in the soundtrack of the 2006 film Marie Antoinette.

The Sauvages: The stage shows a grove in a forest in America, on the borders of the French and Spanish colonies, where the ceremony of the Peace Pipe is about to be celebrated

Adario, a Native American, is in love with Zima, daughter of a native chief, but he fears the rivalry of the Spaniard Don Alvar and the Frenchman Damon (Air: Rivaux des mes exploits, rivaux des mes amours). The Europeans plead with Zima for her love, but she says Damon is too fickle and Alvar is too jealous; she prefers the natural love shown by Adario (Air: Sur nos bords l'amour vole) and the couple vow to marry (Duet: Hymen, viens nous unir d'une cha�ne �ternelle). The act ends with the Europeans joining the natives in the ceremony of peace (Chorus: For�ts paisibles).

Taken fromhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Indes_galantes

The Moldau, Czech Vltava, symphonic poem by Bohemian composer Bedand#345;ich Smetana that evokes the flow of the Vltava River?or, in German, the Moldau?from its source in the mountains of the Bohemian Forest, through the Czechcountryside, to the city of Prague. A devoutly patriotic work, The Moldau captures in music Smetana?s love of his homeland. Completed in 1874 and first performed the following year, the piece constitutes the second movement of a six-movement suite, M� vlast (My Country), which premiered in its entirety in Prague on November 5, 1882.

This arrangement for string quartet includes the following parts: Violin I, Violin II, Viola, Cello.

Your Favorite Christmas Hymns and Carols for Strings, Book 2

Arranged by Colin Kirkpatrick

This is the second volume of the collection of best-loved Christmas hymns and carols arranged for strings, to brighten up your next Christmas event. This publication includes full four-part instrumental scores plus parts for first violin, second violin, viola, cello and optional double bass. Both cello and bass parts appear on a single staff. The arrangements can be used with string quartet, string quintet or string ensemble. There?s also an optional but useful simplified keyboard part intended for less experienced keyboard players. The left hand plays only the bass part most of the time, with the right hand part kept as simple as possible. It could be used as the basis of an accompaniment which means that you can use the arrangements as solos, duets or trios. You can create a brighter string tone by asking the more advanced first and second violin players to play an octave higher when necessary. You can hear this effect in the audio samples.

The arrangements are intended either as stand-alone pieces that could be used as interludes in a concert or service, or they could be used to accompany solo, choral or congregational singing. The arrangements been written in string-friendly keys as often as possible. While the hymns mostly use the traditional harmonies, the carols have been treated more freely.

Book 2 contains the following 21 titles: As with Gladness Men of Old (Melody: Dix); Away in a Manger (Melody: Cradle Song); Ding! Dong! Merrily on High (Melody: Bransle de l'Officiel); God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen; A Great and Mighty Wonder (Melody: Es ist ein Ros); Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (Melody: Mendelssohn); Infant Holy, Infant Lowly (Melody: W. Zlobie Lezy); It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (Melody: Noel); Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mine (Melody: Resonet in Laudibus); Joy to the World (Melody: Antioch); O Come, O Come Emmanuel (Melody: Veni Emmanuel); O Little Town of Bethlehem (Melody: Forest Green) ; Once in Royal David's City (Melody: Irby); Quem Pastores Laudavere; Lully, lulla Thou Little Tiny Child (Melody: Coventry Carol); Hark! A Thrilling Voice is Calling (Melody: Merton); The First Nowell; The Wassail Song; We Three Kings (Melody: Kings of Orient), While Shepherds Watched their Flocks (Melody: Winchester Old) and While Shepherds Watched their Flocks (Melody: Christmas).

The audio samples include Ding! Dong! Merrily on High, Infant Holy, Infant Lowly, Lully, lulla Thou Little Tiny Child and The First Nowell. Please note that the arrangements are usually not usually compatible with the brass collection of the same name.