SKU: HL.44010593

UPC: 884088495268. 9x12 inches.

An excellent choice for festival or concert, To the Ends of the Earth is an exciting challenge for your advancing young band. The connection with the major historic event of the first successful excursion to the South Pole will come to life for your band and audience. A look at the score shows the wealth of opportunities found in this powerful teaching tool. Your band will “come of age” through their own interpretation of the polar saga. Careful scoring will make your band sound its best!

SKU: CF.SC89L

William Grant Still’s catalog of works comprises over 200 pieces, including five symphonies, nine operas, four ballets and numerous works for chamber ensembles. He initially found employment as an oboist in pit orchestras in New York City, later as an arranger of popular music for various ensembles, including those by William C. Handy, James P. Johnson and Paul Whiteman. His career as a composer was launched with a performance in 1931 of his Symphony No. 1 “Afro-American” by the Rochester Philharmonic, conducted by Howard Hanson, who would remain a life-long champion of Still’s orchestral works. By the 1950s the symphony had been performed in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and various European capitals.This notoriety earned Still a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1934, after which he moved to Los Angeles. He is credited as the first African-American to conduct a major orchestra (the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra), the first to have an opera performed by a major company (Troubled Island by the New York City Opera in 1949), and one of the first composers to write for radio, films and television. So numerous were his awards and accolades, including three Guggenheim Fellowships and a variety of honorary doctorates, that he was designated as the “Dean of Afro-American Composers.”The “Black belt” refers to a region in the southern United States that was distinguished by the color of its fertile soil. It was an area whose rich economy was based on cotton and tobacco plantations that were controlled by rich white people and worked by poor black laborers. Still’s piece From the Black Belt from 1926 is presumably a musical representation of these laborers. He described its seven parts in the following ways: William Grant Still’s catalog of works comprises over 200 pieces, including five symphonies, nine operas, four ballets and numerous works for chamber ensembles. He initially found employment as an oboist in pit orchestras in New York City, later as an arranger of popular music for various ensembles, including those by William C. Handy, James P. Johnson and Paul Whiteman. His career as a composer was launched with a performance in 1931 of his Symphony No. 1 “Afro-American” by the Rochester Philharmonic, conducted by Howard Hanson, who would remain a life-long champion of Still’s orchestral works. By the 1950s the symphony had been performed in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and various European capitals.This notoriety earned Still a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1934, after which he moved to Los Angeles. He is credited as the first African-American to conduct a major orchestra (the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra), the first to have an opera performed by a major company (Troubled Island by the New York City Opera in 1949), and one of the first composers to write for radio, films and television. So numerous were his awards and accolades, including three Guggenheim Fellowships and a variety of honorary doctorates, that he was designated as the “Dean of Afro-American Composers.”The “Black belt” refers to a region in the southern United States that was distinguished by the color of its fertile soil. It was an area whose rich economy was based on cotton and tobacco plantations that were controlled by rich white people and worked by poor black laborers. Still’s piece From the Black Belt from 1926 is presumably a musical representation of these laborers. He described its seven parts in the following ways: Li’l Scamp If one were to base his judgment on the volume of sound, he would think this little fellow, who delights in playing childish pranks, a big scamp. But the aptness of the title is determined by the brevity of the piece rather than by the volume of sound. Honeysuckle A musical suggestion of the saccharine odor of the honeysuckle. Dance This title is self-explanatory. Brown GirlA tone picture of a lovely girl. Mah Bones Is Creakin’An old man, afflicted with rheumatism, complains loudly. BlueThe lament of a weary soul. Clap Yo’ Han’sThe participants in a game for children form a circle and clap their hands at intervals.

SKU: HL.44010904

UPC: 884088585341. 9x12 inches.

Enjoyable counterpoint and snippets of well-known carols along with delightful original material will make this engaging and humorous arrangement a memorable addition to your winter concert. Tick-tock; wind it up; and let the alarm ring! Your band and your audience will love this catchy new Christmas piece. Duration: 2:15.

SKU: CN.R10169

Schubert's 5th Symphony is sunny, Viennese, scored originally for small classical orchestra and positively effervesces with ideas. Stuart Johnson has taken the theme from the 2nd movement - Andante con moto - and brought this gem within the reach of technically less advanced players without diminishing the musical quality.

Schubert's delightful 5th Symphony in Bb Major, written in 1816, is a miniature, perhaps consciously avoiding comparison with Beethoven's Fifth, written just 10 years earlier. Schubert's Great was to come later! The work is sunny, Viennese, scored originally for small classical orchestra and positively effervesces with ideas. Stuart Johnson has taken the theme from the 2nd movement - Andante con moto - and brought this gem within the reach of technically less advanced players without diminishing the musical quality.

SKU: PR.44641242L

UPC: 680160617531.

August 4, 1964 was commissioned by the Dallas Symphony for the 2008 celebration of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s centennial year. The 75-minute oratorio focuses on two events that came to a head on August 4, 1964, events that defined LBJ’s presidency: the discovery of the bodies of three slain civil rights workers in Mississippi, and the bombing of North Vietnam, which accelerated U.S. involvement in the Vietnam war. Gene Scheer’s thoroughly-researched libretto includes actual transcripts of White House phone conversations and government documents, as well as letters from the mothers of the slain civil rights workers.

SKU: BT.CMP-0316-99-020

Based on the African-American spiritual “Ev’ry Time I Feel the Spirit”, Feel the Spirit captures the essence of the traditional spiritual. These songs were created by African-Americans oppressed by slavery. A deeply religious people, the slaves would use singing as an expression of both their enthusiastic joy and profound sadness. Feel the Spirit enables you to play a great gospel song with your band.

SKU: CL.012-5014-00

This stunning debut composition from the pen of Lucas Johnson, Valley of the Fallen Lords is a bold and exciting programmatic work for advanced bands. Composed in a film score style with a powerful opening theme, your ensemble will fly through rapid stylistic changes with multiple solo opportunities throughout. A lyrical and lush middle section opens the door for a very expressive and emotional performance with soaring melodies and warm harmonies. You won’t want to miss this one! Our highest recommendation!