SKU: HL.49021834

ISBN 9790001106115.

SKU: HL.49047172

UPC: 196288143406.

When the 24-year-old Richard Strauss, assistant conductor in Munich, began the composition of his third tone poem in the summer of 1888, he saw himself close to the aspiration prescribed by his mentor Alexander Ritter: to become the successor of Richard Wagner as a musical dramatist. Strauss had already been working on the text of his first opera Guntram for a year and additionally devoted himself to programmatic orchestral works oriented to the musical language of Liszt and Wagner in order to prepare himself compositionally for his new task. With the aid of Strauss and other musicians including Ludwig Thuille and Friedrich Rösch who had been gathering for “Ritter's round table” in Munich between 1886 and 1889, Ritter’s intention was to achieve success on a broad front with the New German School following the death of its two protagonists Wagner and Liszt. We do not know whether Ritter and his supporters jointly planned Strauss's compositional path towards opera, determined the subjectsof his prospective tone poems and considered various strategies of their musical realization, but the influence of this group shouldnot be underestimated. It cannot be ruled out that the number of three tone poems was fixed, as was their sequence of composition, which would progressively achieve its zenith in an increasing orientation to Liszt and Wagner. The circle could possibly have also discussed initial links to literary subjects (Macbeth and Don Juan) and ultimately the abstention from this practice in the third and final tone poem. The subject of the work, or rather in Strauss’s formulation its “poetic model”, has occasionally been interpreted from an autobiographical aspect. Strauss however did not experience serious illness until May 1891 and once more in June 1892, long after Tod und Verklärung had been composed. Even without an external reason, the material would have been only too attractive for an admirer of Wagner and Liszt like Strauss, not to mention for his mentor Alexander Ritter. The concept of 'death and transfiguration' had already played a central role in Liszt’s symphonic poems Tasso and Prometheus.

SKU: AP.49029S

ISBN 9781470645458. UPC: 038081561189. English.

Everyone's Guide to the String Orchestra, arranged by Douglas Wagner, is a fantastic selection to feature each section of the ensemble. They all have their very own time to shine in the spotlight with this uniquely scored arrangement of themes from four movements of Saint-Saëns' The Carnival of the Animals. Program as a straight-forward concert number or as a piece incorporated into a recruitment presentation. Medley titles (in order of appearance) are as follows: The Swan (cello section feature) * Lion's Royal March (viola section feature) * The Elephant (string bass section feature) * Finale (violin section feature). (3:10).

SKU: AP.45849S

UPC: 038081525556. English.

Morton Gould's iconic 1943 set of orchestral variations on the Civil War tune, When Johnny Comes Marching Home, has been recorded and performed by major orchestras around the world. This truly American-sounding work, American Salute, is now available in an effective arrangement for string orchestra by Douglas E. Wagner, capturing all of the excitement of the composer's original full orchestra scoring. (4:45).

SKU: AP.48058

ISBN 9781470652098. UPC: 038081558639. English.

Based on Ron Chernow's biography of Alexander Hamilton, with music and lyrics by the infinitely talented Lin-Manuel Miranda, Selections from Hamilton arranged by Douglas E. Wagner will dazzle your students and audiences alike. Hamilton: An American Musical, has enjoyed wild acclaim and sold out performances world-wide since its Broadway premiere in 2015. Three of the most popular musical moments from the show are artistically presented in this six-and-a-half-minute medley for string orchestra. Titles include: My Shot, Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story, and You'll Be Back. Let your audiences enjoy being a part of history in a most musical way. This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud. (6:30).