By the time the Mozart family tree had blossomed into the twentieth century there was very little genius left in the bloodline. Unfortunately though at least one unscrupulous descendant Wolfbane Amarillo Mozart decided to capitalize on the family name by becoming a rock and roll composer. His only real talent seems to be plagarism but your students and audiences will have a ball unraveling his zany conconction.

Meditation on 'Quem Pastores Laudavere'-Carol of the Shepherds is based on the hymn tune 'Quem Pastores Laudavere' which dates back to the 14th century and is widely known throughout the Christian world. Although the melody has been set to a number of different texts in different countries it was originally a carol celebrating the Christmas story in particular the visit of the Angel Gabriel to the shepherds.

The many sided and productive Michael Praetorius (1571-1621) is knwon as a composer of dance music sacred music and music for the advent and Christmas time. He worked as Kapelmeister to the court at Wolffenbuttel but he was also asked to serve in other places includin Dresden. Praetorius was valued for the new impulses he gave to music by means of his use of instrumental accompaniment. His main contribution is his theoretical work 'Syntagma Musicum' one of the most important musical refernce books in connection with instruments and instrumentation in the early 17th Century. 'Es ist ein ros entsprungen' is a well known ancient melody which has inspired numerous composers andarrangers througout the Centuries. Otto M. Schwarz has made a choral arrangement.

Les Anges dans nos campagnes-The title of this clever arrangement reveals the Christmas song it is based on. The melody can be traced back to a French folksong from the 18th century which is now known around the world. In France it is called Les anges dans nos campagnes in Germany it is most widely known as Engel auf den Feldern singen and in England it was originally called Angels From the Realms of Glory but it often known as Angels We Have Heard on High. Everyone will rejoice upon hearing the ‘Gloria in excelsis Deo’ refrain!

Quelle est cette odeur agreable-‘Whence is that Goodly Fragrance Flowing?’ is the first line of an old French Christmas song that originated in the 17th century. In 1728 John Gay used this joyous and markedly festive melody that honours Jesus Christ and His miraculous birth in his Beggar’s Opera. Philip Sparke has given this melody a new lease of life with his charming and imaginative arrangement for the Christmas season.

The subject of a new movie Andrew Lloyd Webber's masterpiece for the stage will reach an entirely new audience in a new century. Warren Barker's magical setting is as fresh-sounding today as when it was first published in 1988. Includes: The Phantom of the Opera The Point of No Return All I Ask of You Angel of Music Think of Me and The Music of the Night.

In the course of the two centuries following the death of Henry Purcell in 1695 no British composer of any statue was apparent. Consequently the break-through of Edward Elgar (1857-1934) as an internationally known and respected composer at the end of the last century was of considerable importance. As a composer Elgar was largely self-taught and he looked towards the continent for his inspiration. He is without doubt on par with his contemporaries such as the somewhat younger Richard Strauss. The Belgian composer Jan Van der Roost is a genuine admirer of Elgar?s music and on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the composer?s death in 1984 he composed the ?CeremonialMarch?. Van der Roost was inspired by the most famous and frequently played works from Elgar?s catalogue of works the characteristic ?Pomp and Circumstances? marches and decided to add his own sixth march to the existing collection.

Storm of the Century-De nombreuses personnes se souviennent parfaitement du 18 janvier 2007. Ce jour-là les services météorologiques avaient lancé plusieurs bulletins d?alerte annonçant l?arrivée imminente de « la tempête du siècle ». Une dépression frontale venue de Terre-Neuve allait toucher l?Europe sous la forme de vents tempétueux particulièrement violents. Kyrill la pire des tempêtes depuis des décennies devait toucher terre en Allemagne dans l?après-midi. De nombreuses écoles furent fermées et les services d?urgence placés en état d?alerte maximale. Malgré ces précautions les événements qui suivirent dépassèrent de loin les plus sombres prévisions. Il y eut des morts des blessés etdes dégâts énormes dans toute l?Europe.La région du Sauerland en Rhénanie-du-Nord-Westphalie (Allemagne) fut particulièrement touchée par la tempête. Kyrill sema la désolation sur son passage laissant des dizaines de foyers sans toit et des forêts éventrées. La filière bois a vu les fruits de plusieurs décennies de travail anéantis en quelques heures. Des arbres vigoureux furent déracinés comme de vulgaires fétus de paille.Des forêts en ruinesSi les vents tempétueux de Kyrill s?abattirent sur toute l?Europe ils dévastèrent la région allemande du Schmallenberger Sauerland comme nulle autre. Ce jour-là Otto M. Schwarz était chez lui en Autriche. Il assista au passage de la tempête mais ne prit véritablement conscience de ses conséquences dramatiques qu?à son arrivée à Bad Fredeburg (Sauerland) où il participait à une conférence organisée par le Volksmusikerbundes NRW (Association pour la promotion des musiques traditionnelles en Rhénanie-du-Nord-Westphalie). Ernst Willi Schulte le directeur de l?association lui montra alors l?étendue des dégâts sur le paysage de la région du Schmallenberger Sauerland. Force lui était de constater que la tempête qui avait balayé son Autriche natale était sans commune mesure avec la violence supportée par cette région allemande touchée de plein fouet par Kyrill.

Les Anges dans nos campagnes-The title of this clever arrangement reveals the Christmas song it is based on. The melody can be traced back to a French folksong from the 18th century which is now known around the world. In France it is called Les anges dans nos campagnes in Germany it is most widely known as Engel auf den Feldern singen and in England it was originally called Angels From the Realms of Glory but it often known as Angels We Have Heard on High. Everyone will rejoice upon hearing the ‘Gloria in excelsis Deo’ refrain!

By the time the Mozart family tree had blossomed into the twentieth century there was very little genius left in the bloodline. Unfortunately though at least one unscrupulous descendant Wolfbane Amarillo Mozart decided tocapitalize on the family name by becoming a rock and roll composer. His only real talent seems to be plagarism but your students and audiences will have a ball unraveling his zany conconction.

A collection of 19th century Shaker melodies-Le contenu de cette composition offre une belle palette démotions aux teintes énergiques dynamiques et intenses sans omettre toutefois des intonations poétiques empreintes de douceur et délicatesse. Une introduction majestueuse céde la place à uneligne mélodique sintensifiant peu à peu en rassemblant lensemble des pupitres puis soriente vers un diminuendo. Lors du passage central bois et cuivres sinterpellent joyeusement autour dun théme festif. La conclusion est pétulante !

Vittorio Monti was born on January 6 1868 in Naples (Italy). His musical education (violin and composition) he enjoyed at the conservatory there. Around his 30's Monti went to Paris. He earned a living as a conductor and wrote several ballets and operettas. In his last years Monti died in 1922 he devoted himself to teaching and composing. His famous 'Czardas' has made his name known even today. Initially the czardas was a Hungarian folk dance but after the mid-nineteenth century it was even a dance for the upper-class. Czardas begins with a slow introduction the Lassan (slow and sad) and then the fast part Friska follows. Czardas is not as somany people think typical gypsy music.

Audivi Media Nocte is based on the eponymous motet by Thomas Tallis from the 16th Century - a work that holds great fascination for Oliver Waespi. During the process of composition, various chord sequences and rhythmical structures emerged that led the work in the direction of a musical drama, with elements of a concerto grosso and solos for different soloists. An innovative, virtuoso and gripping work that can also take you far in competitions!

Taking a similar approach to his popular ?Celtic Air and Dance ? Michael Sweeney creatively combines two 17th-century carols (Bring a Torch Jeanette Isabella and Fum Fum Fum) into this attractive and distinctive setting for the holidays.

16th Century Traditional English Carol-Performer Level (correlates with Book 1 p. 24) With its modal harmonies and hauntingly beautiful melody this holiday favorite will sound terrific with your beginning players thanks to Michael Sweeney's skilled arrangement. Dur: 0 09375