SKU: CY.CC2769

As the title suggests the work dying and dancing for Euphonium solo and Piano accompaniment is in two parts, which are played without a pause between the two.

The first part, an adagio, is not necessarily meant to be evocative of the actual act of passing away, but more perhaps of the contemplation and reflection upon one's life as that time approaches, and particularly of sorrow over regret and disappointment. The unsettled mood of the music reflects this bitterness, and stands in contrast to the expansive peace of the grave, heard at the beginning and end of the adagio.

Dance, with ironic wit, the second part, is the other side of the same coin; perhaps humor of the gallows describes its spirit. At once fatalist and mocking, it brings to mind the words of the ancient teacher Koheleth, The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

I was pleased to compose dying and dancing in 2013 for Mark Kellogg, a superb Euphonium artist and my former trombone iProfessor at the Eastman School of Music.

SKU: CY.CC2516

Le Rossignol or the Nightingale is originally a vocalise for Soprano solo from Saint-Saen's incidental orchestral music for the play, Parysatis written in 1902. This 4 minute work is all about mood. For this arrangement, Mr. Sauer transposes into the key of C, which lays perfectly for all of the bird-like calls that are in phrases which are slurred. The music has a lot of ad lib. tempo sections which gives the performer plenty of time to create that magic call of the Nightingale. Early writers thought it was the female that sang, but in fact it is the male. The Nightingale usually sings at night or just before dawn when other birds are silent and has a strong spontaneous song with an impressive range of trills and whistles.

SKU: CY.CC2602

These are fifteen short, but intense works by Leos Janacek. This music is indeed a great gift to the Euphonium solo literature by Mr. Sauer.

These pieces can be performed by intermediate to advanced performers and are about 9 minutes total in length.

Below are a few notes from the arrangement by Ralph Sauer.

Originally for solo piano, the Fifteen Moravian Folksongs are remarkable for their musicality as well as their brevity - the only notated, repeated passage in the entire work is in Number 5. Because Janacek included the text in his piano score (with no indication that it should be sung), and the fact that there are, in many cases, indications that the text is only a first verse, I have included some additional repeats.

The mp3 sound sample is from a recital at the 2012 Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara. Performance by Ralph Sauer, trombone and Natasha Kislenko, piano.

SKU: CY.CC2619

The Serenade, Op. 37 was conceived for Cello with Piano accompaniment, but later in life the composer scored the work for the solo instrument with orchestra. The Low Brass world knows Rimsky-Korsakov for his Trombone Concerto for Band. The Serenade has a very similar mood to the slow movement of the Concerto. It's beautiful lilting rhythm combined with a wonderful melody makes this work very worthwhile.
Mr. Sauer's arrangement brings a beautiful feel to this 4 minute work, which is appropriate for advanced performers.

Parts for Bass and Treble readers are supplied.

SKU: CY.CC2745

Impromptu is a piano work which Dvorak wrote in 1883 at the behest his friend Vaclav Juda Novotny to be inserted as a supplement into his music magazine. It has an A-B-A form containing some very beautiful melodies and much expression.

The piece was forgotten and considered lost but then showed up decades later in a private collection.

The music is about 6 minutes in duration and is appropriate for advanced performers.

SKU: CY.CC2443

Satie's strange but beautiful pieces were composed in the 1890's and were notated without barlines or time signatures. They consist of mysterious, hypnotic melodies supported by simple chord structures and are full of cryptic comments such as counsel yourself carefully and be clairvoyant. There are few restictions on interpretation. Mr. Sauer's beautiful arrangements of these six short works total about 15 minutes in length and are suitable for advanced performers.

SKU: CY.CC2457

Sir Arnold Bax composed in a style that blended Romantic, Impressionist and Celtic flavors together in a brilliant way. Mr. Sauer has taken these two works originally for Piano and brilliantly transcribed them for Euphonium & Piano. The Country Tune begins with a beautiful melody which turns into a jaunty dance. The Burlesque is also dance-like, but mixes 3/4 and 4/4 time in a most inovative way. These works are light, airy & very pleasant to perform and listen to.

SKU: MA.EMR-54350

Entry March / Charmaine / Little Mouse Polka / Crazy Journey On Tricycle / Boogie Rock Woogie / Fairy Tale Romance / Bella Ciao.