SKU: KJ.O1071C

Prophet's dance is a programmatic work that suggests the events of a prophecy. There is tension in the telling of the future , which is heard in the opening percussion, and in the running string lines as the piece continues. The middle dream-like section depicts the actual receiving of a prophecy & once again the ending depicts the tension as the prophecy is shared with the public.

SKU: PR.416414230

ISBN 9781598066630. UPC: 680160602087. 9x12 inches.

Colonnade is James Matheson’s intriguing response to the Albany Symphony’s commission to create a work inspired by the NY State Board of Education Building, designed by the renowned architect Rafael Guastavino. Matheson explains that “A colonnade acts as a metaphor for the tension between knowledge and perception. The columns are the same height and equidistant from each other; while the mind understands this fully, there exists no place from which one can perceive this – the columns always appear to be of uneven height and spacing. If one then adds motion to perspective, identical columns acquire elasticity, and begin to change kaleidoscopically – they shrink, grow, become closer, and then further apart.” This structural paradox is given musical life in the outer sections of Colonnade, while the long, arching middle section is inspired by the vaulted ceiling of one of the building’s largest rooms, enhancing the structure’s spacious openness and lightness.
Colonnade is inspired by Albany’s majestic New York State Board of Education Building, and written on a commission from the Albany Symphony Orchestra. It was an intriguing task, in part because in order to accept the commission I had to agree to write a work “inspired by” a building I had not yet seen. Thisproblem was compounded by the fact that, for me, the very notion of extra-musical inspiration is a complex one, particularly with respect to literary or visual sources. I generally find ideas and abstracted notions more generative of musical ideas than specific ones (a poem, an experience, a painting). So when I went to seeand tour the building, I sought to identify fundamental formal aspects of the building which I could process into musical ideas, and would then be linked to the building through a sense of formal relationship. In theend, two characteristics of the building stood out as noteworthy and undiminished by time (compared with, for instance, the building’s rotunda, which contains a series of quaintly outdated allegorical paintings): theexterior colonnade and a beautiful interior vaulted ceiling, designed by Rafael Guastavino.For me, a colonnade acts as a metaphor for the tension between knowledge and perception. We all know, for instance, that the columns are of the same height and are equidistant from each other. Nevertheless, while the mind understands this fully, it is also the case that there exists no place – no standpoint or viewpoint – anywhere in the universe – from which one can perceive this; the columns always appear to be of uneven height and spacing. If one then adds motion to perspective – a walk along the colonnade, for instance – the fixed, even, rigidly identical columns acquire elasticity, and begin to change kaleidoscopically – they shrink, grow, become closer, and then further apart. Further, the detail of the building’s façade behind the colonnadeshifts into and out of visibility, with different portions obscured by the columns from each vantage point. These considerations underlie the outer sections of Colonnade, in which a continuously repeated, continuously varied rising figure – suggestive of a column – dominates. The iterations of this elastic, evolvingfigure are interspersed with other music – suggestive of the building’s façade. The second feature of the building that caught my attention was the vaulted ceiling, designed by Guastavino,of one of the building’s largest rooms. The ceiling enhances the spaciousness of the room, giving it an openness and lightness that is quite captivating. The middle section of Colonnade has this openness at its core, and is dominated by long, arching lines that, to me, suggest the refined beauty of this ceiling.World premiere March 8, 2003; Albany Symphony Orchestra conducted by David Alan Miller.

SKU: PR.11641963SP

UPC: 680160684496.

The violin concerto is commissioned by Friends of Dresden Music Foundation for American soloist Mira Wang and the New York Philharmonic and Staatskapelle Dresden as an American commemoration of the reconstruction of the Dresden Frauenkirche, 60 years after its destruction in World War II by American and British Forces. The world premiere is given at the Semperoper in Dresden, Germany, on October 9, 10 & 11, 2005, conducted by Ivan Fischer. Full of excitement and inner power, the musical image is vivid, energetic, sometimes lyrical and sometimes dramatic. The major angular thematic material (a three note motive) consists of big leaps in interval (a perfect fourth downward and then a minor seventh upward, first introduced by the violin solo in measures 27-29). Except for the cadenzas which stand at the middle (Rehearsal E, measure 127) and the two ends of the piece as a frame, the virtuosic violin solo line is always accompanied by the ever moving and growing textures in the background. The rests between long and short phrases symbolize the space in Chinese paintings. The Beijing Opera reciting tune, and the fingerings to produce sliding tones in the performance of the Chinese fiddle erhu are also borrowed in the writing and the performing of the western instruments. The musical imagination of the violin concerto came from an ancient Chinese poem with the same title, written by Du Fu (712-770) in Tang Dynasty. Happy Rain on a Spring Night by Du Fu (712-770 in Tang Dynasty) Happy rain comes in time, When spring is in its prime. With night breeze it will fall, And quietly moisten all. Clouds darken wild roads, Light brightens a little boat. Saturated at dawn, With flowers blooming the town. (English translation by Chen Yi from the original poem in Chinese) The following is the poem in its original Chinese form, and the detailed introduction on the structural plan of the violin concerto Spring in Dresden. It's like the welcome rain on a quiet spring night that nurtures the budding seeds, our new society is pushing us forward to the new future. The music reflects the scenes and the expression according to the meaning of the poem when it's being unfolded line by line. Although the tempo is set 63 quarter notes per minute throughout (played vividly, never slow down), the tension is being built up from the quiet background in the beginning, to the sustained climax towards the end. The musical image in Rehearsal A and B (measures 39-80) represents the first four lines of the poem. The wind instruments response to the rustling of fast moving notes on muted string triplets, decorated by occasional strokes produced by metallic string sound and high woodwind gestures. The music in Rehearsal C and D (measures 81-126) represents the next two lines of the poem. It's so dark, a little light in the boat is shimmering on the lake... The breathy sound and key slaps on the flutes create a mysterious atmosphere, in a dialogue with other instruments. The cello glissandi recite the poem in the tone of Mandarin, echoed by the string harmonics. The music in Rehearsal F, G and H (m 129-202) is a toccata, starting in the orchestra (led by the marimba), which builds up a big shape, to reach the climax in m. 157 (Rehearsal G, the location of the Golden Section, according to the length of the music without cadenzas), and keeps the vivid scene towards the coda (from Rehearsal I, m. 203), which stands on the energetic peak until the clear cutoff on measure 239, followed by the short, yet powerful solo conclusion with the lingering echo produced by the high string harmonics. On the top, there is a recall of the three note motive in the sound of wonderland, touched by the motor-on vibraphone meaningfully. The music is written for 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets (in Bb), 2 bassoons, 4 French horns (in F), 2 trumpets (in Bb), 3 trombones, tuba, harp, 3 percussion players (Perc. 1: xylophone; Perc. 2: suspended cymbal, Japanese high woodblock, snare drum, bass drum and vibraphone; Perc. 3: marimba and tam-tam), solo violin, and strings. Duration is about 20 minutes.
The violin concerto is commissioned by Friends of Dresden Music Foundation for American soloist Mira Wang and the New York Philharmonic and Staatskapelle Dresden as an American commemoration of the reconstruction of the Dresden Frauenkirche, 60 years after its destruction in World War II by American and British Forces. The world premiere is given at the Semperoper in Dresden, Germany, on October 9, 10 & 11, 2005, conducted by Ivan Fischer.Full of excitement and inner power, the musical image is vivid, energetic, sometimeslyrical and sometimes dramatic. The major angular thematic material (a three notemotive) consists of big leaps in interval (a perfect fourth downward and then a minorseventh upward, first introduced by the violin solo in measures 27-29). Except for thecadenzas which stand at the middle (Rehearsal E, measure 127) and the two ends of the piece as a frame, the virtuosic violin solo line is always accompanied by the ever moving and growing textures in the background. The rests between long and short phrases symbolize the space in Chinese paintings. The Beijing Opera reciting tune, and the fingerings to produce sliding tones in the performance of the Chinese fiddle erhu are also borrowed in the writing and the performing of the western instruments.The musical imagination of the violin concerto came from an ancient Chinese poem with the same title, written by Du Fu (712-770) in Tang Dynasty.Happy Rain on a Spring Nightby Du Fu (712-770 in Tang Dynasty)Happy rain comes in time,When spring is in its prime.With night breeze it will fall,And quietly moisten all.Clouds darken wild roads,Light brightens a little boat.Saturated at dawn,With flowers blooming the town.(English translation by Chen Yi from the original poem in Chinese)The following is the poem in its original Chinese form, and the detailed introduction onthe structural plan of the violin concerto Spring in Dresden.It’s like the welcome rain on a quiet spring night that nurtures the budding seeds, our newsociety is pushing us forward to the new future. The music reflects the scenes and theexpression according to the meaning of the poem when it’s being unfolded line by line.Although the tempo is set 63 quarter notes per minute throughout (played vividly, neverslow down), the tension is being built up from the quiet background in the beginning, tothe sustained climax towards the end. The musical image in Rehearsal A and B (measures39-80) represents the first four lines of the poem. The wind instruments response to therustling of fast moving notes on muted string triplets, decorated by occasional strokesproduced by metallic string sound and high woodwind gestures. The music in RehearsalC and D (measures 81-126) represents the next two lines of the poem. It's so dark, a littlelight in the boat is shimmering on the lake... The breathy sound and key slaps on theflutes create a mysterious atmosphere, in a dialogue with other instruments. The celloglissandi recite the poem in the tone of Mandarin, echoed by the string harmonics. Themusic in Rehearsal F, G and H (m 129-202) is a toccata, starting in the orchestra (led bythe marimba), which builds up a big shape, to reach the climax in m. 157 (Rehearsal G,the location of the Golden Section, according to the length of the music withoutcadenzas), and keeps the vivid scene towards the coda (from Rehearsal I, m. 203), whichstands on the energetic peak until the clear cutoff on measure 239, followed by the short,yet powerful solo conclusion with the lingering echo produced by the high stringharmonics. On the top, there is a recall of the three note motive in the sound ofwonderland, touched by the motor-on vibraphone meaningfully.The music is written for 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets (in Bb), 2 bassoons, 4 French horns (in F), 2 trumpets (in Bb), 3 trombones, tuba, harp, 3 percussion players (Perc. 1:xylophone; Perc. 2: suspended cymbal, Japanese high woodblock, snare drum, bass drum and vibraphone; Perc. 3: marimba and tam-tam), solo violin, and strings.Duration is about 20 minutes.

SKU: AP.44971S

UPC: 038081517544. English.

Each year in July in the city of Pamplona, Spain, hundreds of people participate in the running of the bulls, which precedes the daily bullfights during the Fiesta de San Fermin. El Toro (The Bull) is an exciting piece with a Spanish flair that has moments of harmonic tension and drama with strong melodies and countermelodies. An exciting way to explore 3/4 time, tension-and-release, and hemiolas, students can imagine the adrenaline of the run and the celebrations of the fiesta as they perform this tune. ¡Olé! (2:20) (Correlates to Sound Innovations, Book 2, Level 3.) This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.

SKU: BT.DHP-1165729-130

English-German-French-Dutch.

In The Essence of Youth the composer gives an insight into childhood and youth — inspired by his own daughter. The opening of sparking rhythms, dynamic contrasts and changes of time signature paint a vivid picture of the unpredictability of children. The first and second movements recount the love — and also tension and the worries — in the adult-child bond, through dissonant harmonies but also pretty melodies. The fugue-like ending leads to a final splendid chorale: a picture of proud parents with their child!

In The Essence of Youth geeft de componist zijn visie op de kindertijd en de jeugd. Zijn eigen dochter vormde hierbij een belangrijke inspiratiebron. De opening staat met opgewekte ritmes, dynamische contrasten en maatsoortwisselingen voor de spontaniteit van kinderen. Het eerste en tweede deel vertellen over de liefde, zorg en toewijding die horen bij een ouder-kindrelatie. Met dissonante harmonieën, maar ook met mooie melodieën weet de componist dit prachtig te verbeelden. Een fuga leidt ten slotte naar een prachtig koraal: de trotse ouders met hun kind verbeeldend.

In The Essence of Youth beschreibt der Komponist sein Bild von Kindheit und Jugend - inspiriert von seiner eigenen Tochter. Die Eröffnung steht mit aufgeweckten Rhythmen, dynamischen Kontrasten, Taktartwechseln fu r die Unberechenbarkeit von Kindern. Der erste und zweite Satz erzählen mit dissonanten Harmonien, aber auch mit schönen Melodien von Spannungen, Liebe und Sorge in der Eltern-Kind-Beziehung. Den Schluss bildet eine Fuge, die zu einem prachtvollen Choral fu hrt: ein Bild stolzer Eltern mit ihrem Kind!

Cette composition reflète ce que le compositeur considère comme les caractéristiques typiques de la jeunesse : une mélodie éclatante pleine de rythmes vifs, des contrastes dynamiques et des changements de tempi qui se combinent pour symboliser l’énergie débordante des enfants, ainsi que la tension entre parents et enfant. Un passage lyrique exprime l’amour parental par des lignes mélodiques très subtiles. Les notes s’égrènent, le charme opère !

The Essence of Youth è un brano che riflette ciò che il compositore, ispirato da sua figlia, considera come le caratteristiche tipiche della gioventù. Un’ouverture spettacolare nella quale contrasti dinamici e dai ritmi vivaci si susseguono come a simboleggiare la straordinaria energia dei bambini. Il primo movimento, sulla scia dell’introduzione, anticipa una parte di solo che accompagna al secondo movimento, testimonianza dell’amore infinito dei genitori nei confronti dei figli. Una fuga basata sul tema iniziale contraddistingue il terzo movimento che conduce all’apoteosi finale.

SKU: FV.FUE-10077

ISBN 979-0-50182-077-1.

Within this work Heller already establishes herself as a composer who possesses and demonstrates a clear sense of form, as well as a feel for creating arcs of tension and contrasts. The work is pianistically challenging, even though it fits the hands well. It requires, in particular, careful listening with regard to the structures and harmonic sequences. This thoroughly entertaining piece of music is set to benefit both up-and-coming musicians and concert pianists, and deserves to be included in the standard repertoire. The piano suite composed in 1956 by the 20 year-old Barbara Heller is a major accomplishment. Within this work Heller already establishes herself as a composer who possesses and demonstrates a clear sense of form, as well as a feel for creating arcs of tension and contrasts. Stylistically, the work belongs to the moderate modernist trend, which arose sometime after Hindemith. However, this piano suite has charms of its own; at times it is the emphatic shaping of phrases, which bring about moments of dissonance and occasionally, it is the harsh and unwilling gestures. The charm of this piece also lies within its deep-rooted earnestness and its frequent seasoning of humour.

SKU: CF.SAS8

ISBN 9781491160619. UPC: 680160919208.

This action-packed piece for Advanced String Orchestra imagines a scene straight out of a dystopian novel. Under the midnight moon, two opposing forces enter a dilapidated city searching for supplies. An eerie melody embodies the mysterious glow of the moon as both forces scurry and sneak around crumbling overgrown buildings. Eventually a confrontation occurs and the highly rhythmic music underscores a fierce battle. Ever-changing meter and shifting tonality build tension, punctuated with staccato attacks and explosive dynamic changes. What could become of the two forces? Who will come out on top? It's all left up to the imagination of the listener as the piece comes to a thrilling conclusion.
This action-packed piece for advanced string orchestra imagines a scene straight out of a dystopian novel. Under the midnight moon, two opposing forces enter a dilapidated city searching for supplies. An eerie melody embodies the mysterious glow of the moon as both forces scurry and sneak around crumbling overgrown buildings. Eventually a confrontation occurs and the highly rhythmic music underscores a fierce battle. Ever-changing meter and shifting tonality build tension, punctuated with staccato attacks and explosive dynamic changes. What could become of the two forces? Who will come out on top? It's all left up to the imagination of the listener as the piece comes to a thrilling conclusion.

SKU: HL.44011673

UPC: 884088895662. 9x12 inches. English-German-French-Dutch.

In The Essence of Youth the composer gives an insight into childhood and youth — inspired by his own daughter. The opening of sparking rhythms, dynamic contrasts and changes of time signature paint a vivid picture of the unpredictability of children. The first and second movements recount the love — and also tension and the worries — in the adult-child bond, through dissonant harmonies but also pretty melodies. The fugue-like ending leads to a final splendid chorale: a picture of proud parents with their child!

In The Essence of Youth geeft de componist zijn visie op de kindertijd en de jeugd. Zijn eigen dochter vormde hierbij een belangrijke inspiratiebron. De opening staat met opgewekte ritmes, dynamische contrasten en maatsoortwisselingenvoor de spontaniteit van kinderen. Het eerste en tweede deel vertellen over de liefde, zorg en toewijding die horen bij een ouder-kindrelatie. Met dissonante harmonieen, maar ook met mooie melodieen weet de componist ditprachtig te verbeelden. Een fuga leidt ten slotte naar een prachtig koraal: de trotse ouders met hun kind verbeeldend.

In The Essence of Youth beschreibt der Komponist sein Bild von Kindheit und Jugend - inspiriert von seiner eigenen Tochter. Die Eroffnung steht mit aufgeweckten Rhythmen, dynamischen Kontrasten, Taktartwechseln fur die Unberechenbarkeit von Kindern. Der erste und zweite Satz erzahlen mit dissonanten Harmonien, aber auch mit schonen Melodien von Spannungen, Liebe und Sorge in der Eltern-Kind-Beziehung. Den Schluss bildet eine Fuge, die zu einem prachtvollen Choral fuhrt: ein Bild stolzer Eltern mit ihrem Kind!

Cette composition reflete ce que le compositeur considere comme les caracteristiques typiques de la jeunesse : une melodie eclatante pleine de rythmes vifs, des contrastes dynamiques et des changements de tempi qui se combinent pour symboliser l'energie debordante des enfants, ainsi que la tension entre parents et enfant. Un passage lyrique exprime l'amour parental par des lignes melodiques tres subtiles. Les notes s'egrenent, le charme opere !

The Essence of Youth e un brano che riflette cio che il compositore, ispirato da sua figlia, considera come le caratteristiche tipiche della gioventu. Un'ouverture spettacolare nella quale contrasti dinamici e dai ritmi vivaci si susseguono come a simboleggiare la straordinaria energia dei bambini. Il primo movimento, sulla scia dell'introduzione, anticipa una parte di solo che accompagna al secondo movimento, testimonianza dell'amore infinito dei genitori nei confronti dei figli. Una fuga basata sul tema iniziale contraddistingue il terzo movimento che conduce all'apoteosi finale.

SKU: PR.11641861SP

UPC: 680160685202.

What?! - my composer colleagues said - A concerto for the piano? It's a 19th century instrument! Admittedly we are in an age when originally created timbres and/or musico-technological formulations are often the modus operandi of a piece. Actually, this Concerto began about two years ago when, during one of my creative jogs, the sound of the uppermost register of the piano mingled with wind chimes penetrated my inner ear. The challenge and fascination of exploring and developing this idea into an orchestral situation determined that some day soon I would be writing a work for piano and orchestra. So it was a very happy coincidence when Mona Golabek phoned to tell me she would like discuss the Ford Foundation commission. After covering areas of aesthetics and compositional styles, we found that we had a good working rapport, and she asked if I would accept the commission. The answer was obvious. Then began the intensive thought process on the stylistic essence and organization of the work. Along with this went a renewed study of idiomatic writing for the piano, of the kind Stravinsky undertook with the violin when he began his Violin Concerto. By a stroke of great fortune, the day in February 1972 that I received official notice from the Ford Foundation of the commission, I also received a letter from the Guggenheim Foundation informing me I had been awarded my second fellowship. With the good graces of Zubin Mehta and Ernest Fleischmann, masters of my destiny as a member of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, I was relieved of my orchestral duties during the Hollywood Bowl season. Thus I was able to go to Europe to work and to view the latest trends in music concentrating in London (the current musical melting pot and showcase par excellence), Oslo, Norway, for the Festival of Scandinavian Music called Nordic Days, and Warsaw, Poland, for its prestigious Autumn Festival. Over half the Concerto was completed in that summer and most of the rest during the 72-73 season with the final touches put on during a month as Resident Scholar at the Rockefeller Foundation's Villa Serbelloni in Bellagio, Italy. So much for the external and environmental influences, except perhaps to mention the birds of Sussex in the first movement, the bells of Arhus (Denmark) in the second movement and the bells of Bellagio at the end of the Concerto. Primary in the conception was the personality of Miss Golabek: she is a wonderfully vital and dynamic person and a real virtuoso. Therefore, the soloist in the Concerto is truly the protagonist; it is she (for once we can do away with the generic he) who unfolds the character and intent of the piece. The first section is constructed in the manner of a recitative - completely unmeasured - with letters and numbers by which the conductor signals the orchestra for its participation. This allows the soloist the freedom to interpret the patterns and control the flow and development of the music. The Concerto is actually in one continuous movement but with three large divisions of sufficiently contrasting character to be called movements in themselves. The first 'movement' is based on a few timbral elements: 1) a cluster of very low pitches which at the beginning are practically inaudibly depressed, and sustained silently by the sostenuto pedal, which causes sympathetic vibrating pitches to ring when strong notes are struck; 2) a single powerful note indicated by a black note-head with a line through it indicating the strongest possible sforzando; 3) short figures of various colors sometimes ominous, sometimes as splashes of light or as elements of transition; 4) trills and tremolos which are the actual controlling organic thread starting as single axial tremolos and gradually expanding to trills of increasingly larger and more powerful scope. The 'movement' begins in quiescent repose but unceasingly grows in energy and tension as the stretching of a string or rubber band. When it can no longer be restrained, it bursts into the next section. The second 'movement,' propelled by the released tension, is a brilliant virtuosic display, which begins with a long solo of wispy percussion, later joined in duet with the piano. Not to be ignored, the orchestra takes over shooting the material throughout all its sections like a small agile bird deftly maneuvering through nothing but air, while the piano counterposes moments of lyricism. The orchestra reaches a climax, thrusting us into the third 'movement' which begins with a cadenza-like section for the piano. This moves gently into an expressive section (expressive is not a negative term to me) in which duets are formed with various instruments. There are fleeting glimpses of remembrances past, as a fragmented recapitulation. One glimpse is hazily expressed by strings and percussion in a moment of simultaneous contrasting levels of activity, a technique of which I have been fond and have utilized in various fixed-free relationships, particularly in my Percussion Concerto, Contextures and Games: Collage No. 1. The second half of the third 'movement; is a large coda - akin to those in Beethoven - which brings about another display of virtuosity, this time gutsy and driving, raising the Concerto to a final climax, the soloist completing the fragmented recapitulation concept as well as the work with the single-note sforzando and low cluster from the very opening of the first movement.