Wald for Ensemble was composed by Hans Abrahamsen in 2008-09. Co-commission by the Schönberg Ensemble and BBC for Birmingham Contemporary Music Group.Programme NoteWald is in a way a series of variations from the beginning of my woodwind quintet Walden (1978). This thematical idea is very simple - a rising call of a fourth and the response in other voices. This idea is repeated several times but because the call has a slower pulse than the responses the process leads to them changing order.In Walden I borrowed the title from the Americanphilosopher Henry David Thoreau who in the middle of the eighteenth century in a little wooden hermit house at the bank of the lake Walden pond wrote the book Walden of his life and time in the forests. Here he experimented living for two years in order to come closer to nature and to see if it was possible to live simply without all the unnecessary needs created by society. The book is filled with poetry but is also cutting and critical of society. In my piece Walden I tried to search for the same simplicity handling the most simple material but at the same time trying not to lose the poetry.Wald is a twin piece to Walden but also to my former piece Schnee.Robert Schumann wrote in 1848-49 a wonderful piano piece Waldszenen. He wrote this collection of short pieces with beautiful titles like Einsame Blumen Vogel als Prophet and also Jäger auf der Lauer just a few years before Thoreau wrote his book Walden. For them the forest is the magical romantic place that gives a spiritual insight to man but also from where we get our food through hunting. For me the forest still has this magical quality and Wald has scenes with a hunting horn that calls (I many years ago played the magical 'Waldhorn' and remember playing in the forest near my home) flocks of birds that when agitated take

Described as ?Carter Family - meets - Ramones ? this 7-piece NYC ensemble whips up a bubbling cast-iron melting pot of classic country styles; from Bluegrass to Rockabilly Western Swing to Honky Tonk with just the right amountof punk thrown in for good measure. Catchy quirky melodies and left-field lyrics are heightened by virtuosic leads on Telecaster and fiddle whooping blues harp and freight train rhythms. This exciting genre-bending collectionof songs guitar tabs and more is great for non-traditional Americana songwriters guitar players looking to turn up the twang fiddlers/violinists looking for their roots and anyone inspired to start their own DIYhillbilly-blues harmonica and washboard band.

This original shuffle is solidly scored with a Benny Golson/Quincy Jones flavor. The saxes are featured on the head with the solo in the first tenor part. The bridge features a two sax/two trumpet ensemble with a tasty pyramid background that is fun to play. Ken has gone to great lengths to write extensive rhythm section parts assuring that even the most inexperienced players can make this one sound smooth.

There are extensive historical notes and rehearsal suggestions provided by the arranger for your use in rehearsing and presenting this traditional American classic in concert. Written as a medium shuffle it has a great groove throughout. An optional vibe part is included.

This burnin’ funk chart is an outstanding follow-up to Vuono’s popular Calling Dr. Chops. Repetitive figures in the rhythm section make this one easier to learn than it sounds. Trumpet and tenor share the head before the full ensemble kicks in. A big unison sax feature gives your section an opportunity to stand up and get their groove on! (4:30)

Your students can sound like the great Count Basie Band in a short amount of rehearsal time with this very easy swinger. Range demands are low with the lead trumpet going only to a 3rd space C and lead bone to a D. The chart is scored to work for three saxes and four brass. Check out the performance notes for exact instrumentation.

Triple Grammy nominee Frank Mantooth has given this old standard a fresh but straight ahead swing treatment. Highlights include a sax section soli (with opt. trumpet 4) that is really hot and well worth a little wood-shedding time. Super for festival or contest.

Start with some lush ninth chords add a smooth Latin beat with a bone solo some optional Latin percussion and a beautiful lyrical melody. These are all strong characteristics of this very playable chart from the composer of Fat City Swing.

Inspired by the great Latin-jazz charts of the past Madrid offers a new chapter in this great big band tradition. No section is spared as all instruments of the ensemble are featured at different times. The work combines elements of modern jazz with the fiery elements of the Latin-jazz genre. The end really kicks it up a notch as the tempo and feel switch to Latin rock. This one is hot! (4:10)

As the title suggests this one is hot! Based on an up-tempo blues this solid chart has a catchy riff and involves the full ensemble. With very limited ranges and approachable swinging rhythmic figures Front Burner Blues is within reach of even very young ensembles. Written solos with changes are provided for all instruments so feel free to open this one up. A great way to introduce your students to the blues and to feature your talented soloists! (2:45)

This outstanding original is guaranteed to be the hit of your next concert! A full ensemble opening leads into a catchy melody before solo opportunities begin for alto sax and trombone (written solos are provided along with chord changes). Saxes then become the rhythm section in a fun a cappella winds feature followed by a shout chorus that really lives up to the name! This is one chart you will not want to overlook! (3:50)

For two Alto Flutes Bass Flute Violin Viola Cello. Composed and published 2015. Walled Garden for String and Flute trios is a set of three pieces designed to be interleaved with Mala punica a sequence of canons for eight-voiced vocal ensemble written in 2008-9. Commissioned by Spitalfields Music and first performed with Mala punica at Spitalfields Music Summer Festival on 3rd June 2015 by Daniel Pioro (Violin) Robert Ames (Viola) Oliver Coates (Cello) Jane Mitchell and Rebecca Larsen (Alto Flutes) and Helen Keen (Bass Flute). Duration: c. 24 minutes.

Here's another Sharp arrangement of one of Johnny Mark's most familiar holiday classics. After a lush rubato chorale this up-tempo chart moves effectively between rock swing and salsa. A slow swing tag at the end is sure to bring down the house.

Southwestern native Craig Biondi crosses the boarder for inspiration on this medium-easy samba. The G's and A's at the top of the Trumpet 1 staff are all approached scalewise making this an accessible piece for most bands. Trumpet and tenor are featured on the head and both have changes to blow solos.

This piece was inspired by a photograph of jazz clubs on New York’s 52nd Street in the late 1940s. It has the sound and feel of some of the great standards of that era and incorporates elements of the classic big band style with bebop. Tenor sax has a written solo and changes. Along with the performance applications there are plenty of teaching opportunities in this one. (2:15)