SKU: CA.4045592

Text language: Latin.

In 1860 Camille Saint-Saens composed his Oratorio de Noel for five vocal soloists, mixed choir, strings, organ and harp. The work, sung in Latin, is based on texts from the Old and New Testaments, the Psalms and Gospels, as well as the Catholic Christmas liturgy. A distinctive chamber music-like instrumentation, with lyrical soloistic parts and a modest choral part combine to create a basic pastoral mood which has led this Christmas Oratorio to become one of the most performed works by Saint-Saens. Carus offers this work both in its original version and in an arrangement in which the choir is accompanied solely by an organ. This work is now available in carus music, the choir app! Score available separately - see item CA.4045500.

SKU: HL.49017071

ISBN 9790001149945. 9.25x12.0x0.128 inches.

Bertold Hummel worked on his Adagietto for many years. Originally conceived as an Elegy for Strings in 1965, it was transformed into an Adagietto for String Sextet in 1978 and published for the first time in 1993. Hummel undertook a further arrangement of the composition in 1999 and participated with musical friends in its first performance. In one of the scores, the title is supplemented by the term “sacrale”, an indication of the religious background of this composition. In a time of increasing secularisation, the creative and no doubt also the reproducing artist have the task of pointing out to their contemporaries the transcendental, the inexplicable and the unprovable. The language of music - most effective perhaps in reaching across world frontiers - has an especially important role in this. Representations of suffering and horror alone cannot be the inherent constituent of a work of art. A reference to comfort and hope is indispensable. Furthermore, life, nature, and, for the believer, knowledge of God give cause enough for praise and thanks.” This is how my father once formulated his artistic conception. A favourite adopted term of his, “musikalische Klangrede” [musical speech), appears to me to be particularly well implemented in the Adagietto.

SKU: KN.9462

UPC: 822795094626.

The Shaker hymn, Simple Gifts, is an arranger's delight because the tune lends itself so well to a wide variety of musical presentations. In this new version for student strings, an expressive middle section contrasts wonderfully with the more dramatic opening and closing sections. All parts are equally important, and the key of G puts young players in familiar territory.

SKU: CA.3117749

ISBN 9790007209858. Text language: German/English.

The cantata Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ begins with an expansive chorale arrangement, for which Bach reverted to a proven model: The four voices of the solo ensemble take over the chorale, in which the melody lies in the soprano. For stanzas 2-4 Bach chooses the aria form with a highly differentiated scoring from movement to movement, ranging from a continuo Aria (1st movement), up to an aria accompanied by the violin, with obbligato bassoon and continuo. A straightforward four-part chorale movement concludes the cantata. Score and part available separately - see item CA.3117700.

SKU: MN.50-7090

UPC: 688670570902. English.

A lively and rhythmic arrangement of a great African American Spiritual. This piece is performed only as an a cappella version. The SATB version (50-7080) can be performed with either woodwinds and percussion or strings and percussion.

SKU: AP.48080

UPC: 038081553887. English.

Inspired by the sound of elementary Orff ensembles, Gamelan Groove, by Doug Spata, consists of easy two-measure phrases with layered pizzicato throughout creating fun and funky textures. Using only the notes of the D and A strings (basses go up to open G), this piece will give beginners a great introduction to ensemble playing and note reading. (1:52) This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.