ISBN 9781513459479. 8.75x11.75 inches.

This set of 10 intermediate-level arrangements was derived from songs from the Colonial through Civil War periods. In these pieces, the hauntingly lyrical tone of the clarinet combined with piano accompaniment creates a unique musical setting. The songs were drawn from the works of Stephen Foster, Sacred Harp shape-note themes, 19th-century folk songs as well as colonial fife and drum music. The arrangements explore the low melodious register of the clarinet through the lyrical mid tones and into the singing moderate-upper register.

Song List: Aura Lee Beautiful Dreamer Black is the Color of My True Love's Hair Black Sunday Darling Nellie Gray Hard Times Come Again No More I Dream of Jeanie With the Light Brown Hair In The Pines Johnny Has Gone For a Soldier Just A-Wearyin' For You Just Before The Battle, Mother Land of Rest Lorena Mighty Lak' A Rose Paper Of Pins Prairie Sunset Pretty Peggy - O Shady Grove Shenandoah The Lonesome Dove The Long Road The Old Country The Old Homestead TO a Wild Rose Trail Of Tears

?American Patrol? is the best-known work by Frank White (F.W.) Meacham (1856?1909), an arranger and composer associated with Tin Pan Alley, the home of New York City-based songwriters and music publishers who dominated the popular music of the United States in the late 19th and early 20th century. ?American Patrol? incorporates both original musical themes by Meacham and melodies from patriotic songs of the era such as ?Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean? and ?Dixie.? The ?patrol? format was popular in the latter 19th century, and was intended to represent a military band approaching, passing, and fading into the distance. It typically included an introduction played pianissimo or piano, in imitation of bugle calls or drums, then themes played progressively louder until a recapitulation of the first theme(s), gradually fading away and finishing softly, like the march began. Published for piano in 1885 and for wind band in 1891, ?American Patrol? became and remained popular through World War I and II, enjoying renewed popularity during WWII and beyond thanks to a swing arrangement for Glenn Miller's band by Jerry Gray. �Copyright 2013 Todd Marchand / ConSpiritoMusic.com

?An American Folk Hymn Medley? brings together three 19th-century shape-note tunes in a contemporary setting for brass quintet. HOLY MANNA is popularly known as ?Brethren We Have Met to Worship? from its association with a text by Methodist clergyman George Atkins (1793-1827). It was first published in Columbian Harmony, a shape-note tune book, in 1829, and is attributed to William Moore, the publisher. RESTORATION, first published in William Walker?s 1835 shape-note hymnal, Southern Harmony, was later renamed ARISE from its association with a text by Joseph Hart (1712-1768) in which the chorus begins ?I will arise and go to Jesus?.? PLEADING SAVIOR, published in Joshua Leavitt?s 1830 compilation The Christian Lyre, is today best-known in many churches as the accompaniment to the text ?Sing of Mary, Pure and Lowly.? In this arrangement, the similar tunes HOLY MANNA and PLEADING SAVIOR, both in major tonality and 8.7.8.7 poetic meter, frame the contrasting minor tonality tune, RESTORATION. Contrasting instrument textures, keys, and tempi, and a mix of both traditional and contemporary harmonies breathe a fresh spirit into these venerable tunes.