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

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.

This medium-tempo swing chart has a cool bluesy quality. Using an ever-changing palette of tone colors and textures A Minor Shade of Blue also features many smaller ensembles within the overall group. A vibraphone part adds to the color but is not required. In addition there are no solos to worry about — just great ensemble writing that features every section while also combining sections for interesting colors. Fantastic writing for big band! (3:00)

Here's a cooking swing-style chart from the same cat that wrote last year's festival winner Socrates The Amazing Mississippi Map Turtle which made the Midwest Clinic program. This chart features lots of solid ensemble writing throughout especially in the bone section.

This chart joins rock and fusion elements with ingenious harmonies to make music that is sure to please. The rhythmic feel changes from straight eighths to a funky half-time groove while the melody is traded throughout different parts of the ensemble. Some great auxiliary percussion keeps your students involved while adding some creative color to this unique composition.

Premiered at the 2005 Michigan Music Educaotrs Conference Escapades was commissioned by the Grand Valley State University Symphonic Wind Ensemble under the baton of Barry D. Martin with Arthur Campbell as clarinet soloist. Since the premiere it has been scheduled for additional performances in the United States and abroad. The piece gets its inspiration from the title which can be defined as 'a usually adventurous action that runs counter to approved or conventional conduct.' This piece is a series of changing 'escapades' (or variations) which develop and explore different aspects of the opening thematic material. The entire work builds into a free improvisational section beforeall elements of are united in the final presto of the composition (10:00)

What a great chart! The Sermon seamlessly integrates gospel rock jazz and Dixieland. The sax section is featured prominently throughout and the rest of the ensemble gets plenty of exciting material as well. The melody is a strong hook and is naturally developed throughout the chart including a short Dixieland section that includes an optional clarinet for a really authentic sound. This one is destined to become a bestseller!

There’s no riddle when it comes to the success of Rob Vuono’s jazz charts! His ability to create a complex sounding chart that is extremely easy to play makes this one a guaranteed winner. Starting off with a simple swing 2 feel the chart builds into a steady 4. A brief interlude drops the key down a half step before moving back up creating the illusion of a key change without one ever occurring! Fabulous writing by one of the top jazz arrangers in the country!

This screamin’ arrangement features a blending of an eight-to-the-bar boogie woogie and Rumba in a classic big band setting. The saxes take the melody with some gritty plunger work in the brass to really give this chart some character. A hot tenor sax solo is followed by a swingin’ shout chorus that is sure to bring down the house! The showtime-style ending makes this the perfect chart to close your holiday concert. This one is hot!

Here's an eight-bar blues that features piano tenor and/or trumpet. The lead sax line can be covered by soprano or an optional flute part. The ending is written to feature your drummer in a wild solo fill.

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.

Here's an F minor blues that bounces back and forth between a two-beat and four-beat feel. Featuring a quartet of muted trumpets and saxes with optional flute this minor blues really cooks in the middle. There's an extended sax soli before the final shout chorus. You'll want to put this one on your festival list.

Count Basie’s arrangers would often take a minimalist approach to their writing. The essential elements were a riff-based melody and a shout chorus interspersed with creative soloists. Back Bay Breeze makes use of that formula in an easygoing happily swinging way. A shout chorus with a Basie-style tag makes the perfect ending to this gem from Bryan Kidd former chief arranger with the D.C. Navy Band.

The lively melodies of the traditional French carol Sing We Now Of Christmas play one with another in a brilliant Instrumental Pack that is perfect for school church and community choirs. Festive and filled with joy! The parts available in this collection are the full score Flutes 1 and 2 Oboe Bb Clarinets 1 and 2 Bassoon Percussion 1 2 and 3 Harp Violins 1 and 2 Viola Cello and Double Bass.

Featuring a Basie-style piano part that's written out on the opening chorus this blues settles into a very nice groove with the saxes featured much of the time. None of the parts are overly demanding and the ranges are very comfortable. An excellent blues recipe!