SKU: MH.1-59913-021-1

ISBN 9781599130217.

Program Notes: Festival in Russia is a transcription for concert band of Anatoli Liadov's dazzling orchestral work, Polonaise (Op. 49). Written at the turn of the century, its energetic dance rhythms and melodic expressiveness will bring a delightful Old World charm to today's audiences. Liadov (1855-1914) was a student of Rimsky-Korsakov at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, and succeeded him as the composition teacher. (One of Liadov's most notable students at the Conservatory was Sergei Prokofiev.) At the time the Polonaise was written (1899), Liadov was at the height of his profession and one of his era's most respected and widely-known composers. The first performance of this transcription for concert band was given by the West Virginia University Wind Symphony at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on February 24, 1988, Don Wilcox conducting. Ensemble instrumentation: 1 Piccolo, 4 Flute I, 4 Flute II, 1 Oboe I, 1 Oboe II, 1 English Horn, 1 Bassoon I, 1 Bassoon II, 1 Eb Clarinet, 4 Bb Clarinet I, 4 Bb Clarinet II, 4 Bb Clarinet III, 1 Eb Alto Clarinet, 1 Eb ContrabassClarinet, 3 Bb Bass Clarinet & Bb Contrabass Clarinet, 3 Eb Alto Saxophone I, 3 Eb Alto Saxophone II, 2 Bb Tenor Saxophone, 2 Eb Baritone Saxophone, 3 Bb Cornet I, 3 Bb Cornet II, 3 Bb Cornet III, 2 Bb Trumpet I, 2 Bb Trumpet II, 2 F Horn I & III, 2 F Horn II & IV, 2 Trombone I, 2 Trombone II, 2 Bass Trombone, 3 Euphonium, 2 Euphonium T.C., 4 Tuba, 2 Timpani, 2 Bells & Vibraphone, 3 Chimes, Triangle & Cymbals, 2 Xylophone & Marimba, 2 Snare Drum & Bass Drum.

SKU: MH.1-59913-064-5

ISBN 9781599130644.

I wrote Galloping Ghosts (A Ragtime March) to conclude a concert of my chamber music in New York City on October 28, 1986. It is the final part of a work called Rags for Divers Players. This work was written to show the variety possible within the standard rag form. I used all the players available for the finale -- two violins, viola, cello, bass, flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon, and piano. Since this is a rather unusual instrumental combination and not easy to reassemble, I decided to rescore the work for concert band. Galloping Ghosts is written in a standard march form but incorporates many of the syncopations found in ragtime. The uniquely American music called ragtime traces its history to African rhythms brought over by slaves. Over the years this music became welded to European musical forms such as the quadrille and the march. Drums and banjos and the minstrel tradition lent a special flavor, and from all these elements ragtime slowly evolved within the largely unknown black subculture of the late 19th century. In the late 1890's it emerged as a fully developed form in the classic piano solos of Scott Joplin (1869-1917). Joplin's 1899 hit, Maple Leaf Rag, was an overnight sensation and brought ragtime worldwide fame. Ensemble instrumentation: 1 Piccolo, 8 Flute 1 and 2, 2 Oboe, 1 Eb Clarinet, 4 Bb Clarinet 1, 4 Bb Clarinet 2, 4 Bb Clarinet 3, 2 Eb Alto Clarinet, 3 Bb Bass and Bb Contrabass Clarinet, 2 Bassoon 1 and 2, 2 Eb Alto Saxophone 1, 2 Eb Alto Saxophone 2, 2 Bb Tenor Saxophone, 1 Eb Baritone Saxophone, 3 Bb Cornet 1, 3 Bb Cornet 2, 3 Bb Cornet 3, 2 Horn 1 and 2 in F, 2 Horn 3 and 4 in F, 4 Trombone 1 and 2, 4 Bass Trombone, 2 Baritone (B.C.), 2 Baritone (T.C.), 4 Tuba, 1 String Bass, 1 Timpani, 1 Xylophone, 3 Percussion 1, 3 Percussion 2.

SKU: CF.SPS82

ISBN 9781491152591. UPC: 680160910090. Key: Bb major.

Resignation was composed in memory of one of Ed Kiefer's best friends. Evoking the struggle of coming to grips with the loss of a dear friend, the piece is based on the hymn, My Shepherd Will Supply My Need. It is dramatic, heartfelt, and overwhelmingly beautiful. As Hans Christian Andersen once said, When words fail, music speaks..
Dr. David S. Kirby Commission Consortium Phillip Riggs, Commission CoordinatorNorthwest District Bandmasters AssociationRodney Workman, Past-Chair Andrew Jimeson, ChairWestern North Carolina Bandmasters AssociationAllen Klaes, ChairNorth Carolina School of Science and MathPhillip Riggs, DirectorA.C. Reynolds High School BandSean Smith, DirectorSouth Caldwell High School BandJason Childers, DirectorJay M. Robinson Symphonic BandAndrew Carter, DirectorApex High School BandDaniel Jarvis, DirectorPanther Creek High School BandDavid Robinson, DirectorEastern Randolph High School BandCarolina Perez, DirectorStanley County Concert Band/Pfeiffer University Concert BandCarmella Hedrick, Tim Hedrick and Frank Poolos, DirectorsLenoir Rhyne University Wind SymphonyDr. Daniel Kiser, ConductorDr. Christopher NegrelliNumerous colleagues, fellow teachers, and former studentsProgram NotesThere is no possible way I could compose a piece of music worthy of the memory of my close friend, Dr. David Kirby, who died very suddenly at an early age. Neither could I write a piece that could come close to reflecting his kind spirit, wit, personality or talent. In fact, it was almost impossible for me to write anything at all. My own grief and the stages of my grief kept getting in the way. I ended up with a setting of the hymn-tune, Resignation. Resigned.  To the fact that he is no longer with us. I know he is in a better place, but we are not. We miss him very much. And so, My Shepherd Will Supply My Need seems to speak to those of us he left behind. I apologize if this piece does not reflect your special feelings for him or help you celebrate his moving on. Unfortunately, I could only put down what I have come to accept and hope in some way it may speak to any of you that knew him or to others of you who have also lost a close friend. My Shepherd Will Supply My Need. That is my hope and my hope for you.Although technically very easy, this composition requires a maturity of musicianship to be performed properly. The Bb contrabass clarinet part is integral to the composition, but there are cues in the tuba part if you need them.  Make sure you bring horns to the fore at m. 53 and the low brass at m. 59 so the melody can be heard without effort. Exaggerate dynamics to bring more emotion to the piece. Be careful not to diminuendo too soon near the end or it will be difficult to diminish even further at the very end, where the lone clarinetist holds over a couple of measures, fading into nothing. I hope your students will enjoy this piece and take from it a greater appreciation for the way making music can express feelings.

SKU: CF.SPS30

ISBN 9780825864872. UPC: 798408064877. 9 X 12 inches. Key: Eb major.

Using the musical styles and forms of the Medieval and Renaissance periods, Mike Forbes has written a striking and powerful three movement suite that is a major addition to serious band literature. The music is entirely original, but the style and approach is similar to such pieces as the Courtly Dances from Gloriana by Benjamin Britten, and makes effective use of the coloristic possibilities of the modern concert band.