SKU: HL.14037707
ISBN 9781849385916. UPC: 884088578626. 8.25x11.75x0.262 inches.
Kevin Volans' String Quartet No. 9: Shiva Dances was commissioned by BBC Radio 3 and first performed by the Smith Quartet at the 2004 Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival.Kevin Volans (the composer) notes on the piece:In the past I have been interested in trying to go beyond historicism (1970s), beyond style(1980s) and beyond form (1990s) in my work. Looking back over the music of the twentiethcentury I was struck by the fact the nearlyall of it is extremely 'busy', almost cluttered. Italmost seemed that composers felt compelled to look industrious. In the new millennium Ithought it would be interesting to try and eliminate content. I also aspired to movingfrommusic (sound as art) to art (art as sound). This, of course, has already been done by a numberof composers (many from New York - Phil Niblock and La Monte Young, to name but two), butit was something I had never tried.AlthoughI found it annoying that the label 'minimalist' was given to my African-based work,and fearing this would make the label stick, I set out to write a piece which reflected my loveof minimal painting and architecture. The Japanesehave a term 'wabi' meaning 'voluntarypoverty' or 'emptiness' to describe their restrained minimal aesthetic, an aesthetic which,however, pays greatest attention to the quality of material and fine detail. I like to think thatthelack of excessive pitch material in this piece reflects a kind of voluntary poverty.When Shiva is portrayed dancing (as Nataraj) He is depicted in a circle of flames crushing asmall figure - the ego - underfoot.You get theimpression He dances on the spot, not movingaround at all. I like that.The piece is dedicated to Pablo Pascual Cilleruelo.
SKU: CF.CM9751
ISBN 9781491162392. UPC: 680160921140. Key: E lydian. English. The Vastness of the Universe Jonas Hallgrimsson (1807-1845).
About Jónas HalgrÃmsson (1807-1845) was an Icelandic poet, author and naturalist, who is considered one of Iceland's most renowned poets. Considered a Romantic writer, the strong imagery in his poetry was influenced heavily by the landscapes around him.The imagery, excitement, and curiosity of the universe leapt off the page and the music almost wrote itself. Reflecting on the cosmos and origin of the heavens, the poetry elicits excitement and stirs spatial imagery - ...speeding spark of light, ...wings swifter than wind..., ...I watched the stars...rise from the still stream of heaven... The pure and almost child-like fascination with the universe and its expansion and progression fuels the perpetual rhythm of the work as it continually pushes forward.A good friend asked if I would write a song for her ensemble. The original voicing, for SAB choir, contained parameters in that it had to be three-part with a limited range in the Bass part. With these stipulations I began to write. I searched for something that would be exciting for them and landed on Jonas Halgrimsson’s writings. I believe it is equally as exciting, accessible and challenging for tenor-bass choirs. Director’s NoteTruly consider how the work can come to ‘life’ off the page. Rise and fall with phrase and sometimes each note. The magic exists beyond the ink on the page!Consideration to range, tessitura, and content was all considered as part of this process in creating music that is accessible to all programs and ensembles.Accompaniment NoteThe accompaniment can look intimidating, but please feel free to alter the pulsing eighth notes in the left hand with the eighth notes in the right-hand so it creates a compound rhythm. So long as the momentum of the work is pressed onward, you are doing this work justice.About Jónas HalgrÃmsson (1807-1845) was an Icelandic poet, author and naturalist, who is considered one of Iceland's most renowned poets. Considered a Romantic writer, the strong imagery in his poetry was influenced heavily by the landscapes around him.The imagery, excitement, and curiosity of the universe leapt off the page and the music almost wrote itself. Reflecting on the cosmos and origin of the heavens, the poetry elicits excitement and stirs spatial imagery - ...speeding spark of light, ...wings swifter than wind..., ...I watched the stars...rise from the still stream of heaven... The pure and almost child-like fascination with the universe and its expansion and progression fuels the perpetual rhythm of the work as it continually pushes forward.A good friend asked if I would write a song for her ensemble. The original voicing, for SAB choir, contained parameters in that it had to be three-part with a limited range in the Bass part. With these stipulations I began to write. I searched for something that would be exciting for them and landed on Jonas Halgrimsson’s writings. I believe it is equally as exciting, accessible and challenging for tenor-bass choirs. Director’s NoteTruly consider how the work can come to ‘life’ off the page. Rise and fall with phrase and sometimes each note. The magic exists beyond the ink on the page!Consideration to range, tessitura, and content was all considered as part of this process in creating music that is accessible to all programs and ensembles.Accompaniment NoteThe accompaniment can look intimidating, but please feel free to alter the pulsing eighth notes in the left hand with the eighth notes in the right-hand so it creates a compound rhythm. So long as the momentum of the work is pressed onward, you are doing this work justice.About Jónas HalgrÃmsson (1807-1845) was an Icelandic poet, author and naturalist, who is considered one of Iceland's most renowned poets. Considered a Romantic writer, the strong imagery in his poetry was influenced heavily by the landscapes around him.The imagery, excitement, and curiosity of the universe leapt off the page and the music almost wrote itself. Reflecting on the cosmos and origin of the heavens, the poetry elicits excitement and stirs spatial imagery - ...speeding spark of light, ...wings swifter than wind..., ...I watched the stars...rise from the still stream of heaven... The pure and almost child-like fascination with the universe and its expansion and progression fuels the perpetual rhythm of the work as it continually pushes forward.A good friend asked if I would write a song for her ensemble. The original voicing, for SAB choir, contained parameters in that it had to be three-part with a limited range in the Bass part. With these stipulations I began to write. I searched for something that would be exciting for them and landed on Jonas Halgrimsson’s writings. I believe it is equally as exciting, accessible and challenging for tenor-bass choirs. Director’s NoteTruly consider how the work can come to ‘life’ off the page. Rise and fall with phrase and sometimes each note. The magic exists beyond the ink on the page!Consideration to range, tessitura, and content was all considered as part of this process in creating music that is accessible to all programs and ensembles.Accompaniment NoteThe accompaniment can look intimidating, but please feel free to alter the pulsing eighth notes in the left hand with the eighth notes in the right-hand so it creates a compound rhythm. So long as the momentum of the work is pressed onward, you are doing this work justice.About Jónas HalgrÃmsson (1807-1845) was an Icelandic poet, author and naturalist, who is considered one of Iceland's most renowned poets. Considered a Romantic writer, the strong imagery in his poetry was influenced heavily by the landscapes around him.The imagery, excitement, and curiosity of the universe leapt off the page and the music almost wrote itself. Reflecting on the cosmos and origin of the heavens, the poetry elicits excitement and stirs spatial imagery - ...speeding spark of light, ...wings swifter than wind..., ...I watched the stars...rise from the still stream of heaven... The pure and almost child-like fascination with the universe and its expansion and progression fuels the perpetual rhythm of the work as it continually pushes forward.A good friend asked if I would write a song for her ensemble. The original voicing, for SAB choir, contained parameters in that it had to be three-part with a limited range in the Bass part. With these stipulations I began to write. I searched for something that would be exciting for them and landed on Jonas Halgrimsson’s writings. I believe it is equally as exciting, accessible and challenging for tenor-bass choirs. Director’s NoteTruly consider how the work can come to ‘life’ off the page. Rise and fall with phrase and sometimes each note. The magic exists beyond the ink on the page!Consideration to range, tessitura, and content was all considered as part of this process in creating music that is accessible to all programs and ensembles.Accompaniment NoteThe accompaniment can look intimidating, but please feel free to alter the pulsing eighth notes in the left hand with the eighth notes in the right-hand so it creates a compound rhythm. So long as the momentum of the work is pressed onward, you are doing this work justice.About Jónas HalgrÃmsson (1807-1845) was an Icelandic poet, author and naturalist, who is considered one of Iceland's most renowned poets. Considered a Romantic writer, the strong imagery in his poetry was influenced heavily by the landscapes around him.The imagery, excitement, and curiosity of the universe leapt off the page and the music almost wrote itself. Reflecting on the cosmos and origin of the heavens, the poetry elicits excitement and stirs spatial imagery - ...speeding spark of light, ...wings swifter than wind..., ...I watched the stars...rise from the still stream of heaven... The pure and almost child-like fascination with the universe and its expansion and progression fuels the perpetual rhythm of the work as it continually pushes forward.A good friend asked if I would write a song for her ensemble. The original voicing, for SAB choir, contained parameters in that it had to be three-part with a limited range in the Bass part. With these stipulations I began to write. I searched for something that would be exciting for them and landed on Jonas Halgrimsson’s writings. I believe it is equally as exciting, accessible and challenging for tenor-bass choirs. Director’s NoteTruly consider how the work can come to ‘life’ off the page. Rise and fall with phrase and sometimes each note. The magic exists beyond the ink on the page!Consideration to range, tessitura, and content was all considered as part of this process in creating music that is accessible to all programs and ensembles.Accompaniment NoteThe accompaniment can look intimidating, but please feel free to alter the pulsing eighth notes in the left hand with the eighth notes in the right-hand so it creates a compound rhythm. So long as the momentum of the work is pressed onward, you are doing this work justice.About Jónas HalgrÃmsson (1807-1845) was an Icelandic poet, author and naturalist, who is considered one of Iceland's most renowned poets. Considered a Romantic writer, the strong imagery in his poetry was influenced heavily by the landscapes around him.The imagery, excitement, and curiosity of the universe leapt off the page and the music almost wrote itself. Reflecting on the cosmos and origin of the heavens, the poetry elicits excitement and stirs spatial imagery - ...speeding spark of light, ...wings swifter than wind..., ...I watched the stars...rise from the still stream of heaven... The pure and almost child-like fascination with the universe and its expansion and progression fuels the perpetual rhythm of the work as it continually pushes forward.A good friend asked if I would write a song for her ensemble. The original voicing, for SAB choir, contained parameters in that it had to be three-part with a limited range in the Bass part. With these stipulations I began to write. I searched for something that would be exciting for them and landed on Jonas Halgrimsson’s writings. I believe it is equally as exciting, accessible and challenging for tenor-bass choirs. Director’s NoteTruly consider how the work can come to ‘life’ off the page. Rise and fall with phrase and sometimes each note. The magic exists beyond the ink on the page!Consideration to range, tessitura, and content was all considered as part of this process in creating music that is accessible to all programs and ensembles.Accompaniment NoteThe accompaniment can look intimidating, but please feel free to alter the pulsing eighth notes in the left hand with the eighth notes in the right-hand so it creates a compound rhythm. So long as the momentum of the work is pressed onward, you are doing this work justice.
SKU: CF.CM9747
ISBN 9781491162354. UPC: 680160921102. Key: E lydian. English. The Vastness of the Universe Jonas Hallgrimsson (1807-1845).
About Jónas HalgrÃmsson (1807-1845) was an Icelandic poet, author and naturalist, who is considered one of Iceland's most renowned poets. Considered a Romantic writer, the strong imagery in his poetry was influenced heavily by the landscapes around him.The imagery, excitement, and curiosity of the universe leapt off the page and the music almost wrote itself. Reflecting on the cosmos and origin of the heavens, the poetry elicits excitement and stirs spatial imagery - ...speeding spark of light, ...wings swifter than wind..., ...I watched the stars...rise from the still stream of heaven... The pure and almost child-like fascination with the universe and its expansion and progression fuels the perpetual rhythm of the work as it continually pushes forward.A good friend asked if I would write a song for her ensemble. The original voicing, for SAB choir, contained parameters in that it had to be three-part with a limited range in the Bass part. With these stipulations I began to write. I searched for something that would be exciting for them and landed on Jonas Halgrimsson’s writings. I believe it is equally as exciting, accessible and challenging for treble choirs.Note to the DirectorTruly consider how the work can come to ‘life’ off the page. Rise and fall with phrase and sometimes each note. The magic exists beyond the ink on the page!Consideration to range, tessitura, and content was all considered as part of this process in creating music that is accessible to all programs and ensembles.Accompaniment NoteThe accompaniment can look intimidating, but please feel free to alter the pulsing eighth notes in the left hand with the eighth notes in the right-hand so it creates a compound rhythm. So long as the momentum of the work is pressed onward, you are doing this work justice.About Jónas HalgrÃmsson (1807-1845) was an Icelandic poet, author and naturalist, who is considered one of Iceland's most renowned poets. Considered a Romantic writer, the strong imagery in his poetry was influenced heavily by the landscapes around him.The imagery, excitement, and curiosity of the universe leapt off the page and the music almost wrote itself. Reflecting on the cosmos and origin of the heavens, the poetry elicits excitement and stirs spatial imagery - ...speeding spark of light, ...wings swifter than wind..., ...I watched the stars...rise from the still stream of heaven... The pure and almost child-like fascination with the universe and its expansion and progression fuels the perpetual rhythm of the work as it continually pushes forward.A good friend asked if I would write a song for her ensemble. The original voicing, for SAB choir, contained parameters in that it had to be three-part with a limited range in the Bass part. With these stipulations I began to write. I searched for something that would be exciting for them and landed on Jonas Halgrimsson’s writings. I believe it is equally as exciting, accessible and challenging for treble choirs.Note to the DirectorTruly consider how the work can come to ‘life’ off the page. Rise and fall with phrase and sometimes each note. The magic exists beyond the ink on the page!Consideration to range, tessitura, and content was all considered as part of this process in creating music that is accessible to all programs and ensembles.Accompaniment NoteThe accompaniment can look intimidating, but please feel free to alter the pulsing eighth notes in the left hand with the eighth notes in the right-hand so it creates a compound rhythm. So long as the momentum of the work is pressed onward, you are doing this work justice.About Jónas HalgrÃmsson (1807-1845) was an Icelandic poet, author and naturalist, who is considered one of Iceland's most renowned poets. Considered a Romantic writer, the strong imagery in his poetry was influenced heavily by the landscapes around him.The imagery, excitement, and curiosity of the universe leapt off the page and the music almost wrote itself. Reflecting on the cosmos and origin of the heavens, the poetry elicits excitement and stirs spatial imagery - ...speeding spark of light, ...wings swifter than wind..., ...I watched the stars...rise from the still stream of heaven... The pure and almost child-like fascination with the universe and its expansion and progression fuels the perpetual rhythm of the work as it continually pushes forward.A good friend asked if I would write a song for her ensemble. The original voicing, for SAB choir, contained parameters in that it had to be three-part with a limited range in the Bass part. With these stipulations I began to write. I searched for something that would be exciting for them and landed on Jonas Halgrimsson’s writings. I believe it is equally as exciting, accessible and challenging for treble choirs.Note to the DirectorTruly consider how the work can come to ‘life’ off the page. Rise and fall with phrase and sometimes each note. The magic exists beyond the ink on the page!Consideration to range, tessitura, and content was all considered as part of this process in creating music that is accessible to all programs and ensembles.Accompaniment NoteThe accompaniment can look intimidating, but please feel free to alter the pulsing eighth notes in the left hand with the eighth notes in the right-hand so it creates a compound rhythm. So long as the momentum of the work is pressed onward, you are doing this work justice.About Jónas HalgrÃmsson (1807-1845) was an Icelandic poet, author and naturalist, who is considered one of Iceland's most renowned poets. Considered a Romantic writer, the strong imagery in his poetry was influenced heavily by the landscapes around him.The imagery, excitement, and curiosity of the universe leapt off the page and the music almost wrote itself. Reflecting on the cosmos and origin of the heavens, the poetry elicits excitement and stirs spatial imagery - ...speeding spark of light, ...wings swifter than wind..., ...I watched the stars...rise from the still stream of heaven... The pure and almost child-like fascination with the universe and its expansion and progression fuels the perpetual rhythm of the work as it continually pushes forward.A good friend asked if I would write a song for her ensemble. The original voicing, for SAB choir, contained parameters in that it had to be three-part with a limited range in the Bass part. With these stipulations I began to write. I searched for something that would be exciting for them and landed on Jonas Halgrimsson’s writings. I believe it is equally as exciting, accessible and challenging for treble choirs.Note to the DirectorTruly consider how the work can come to ‘life’ off the page. Rise and fall with phrase and sometimes each note. The magic exists beyond the ink on the page!Consideration to range, tessitura, and content was all considered as part of this process in creating music that is accessible to all programs and ensembles.Accompaniment NoteThe accompaniment can look intimidating, but please feel free to alter the pulsing eighth notes in the left hand with the eighth notes in the right-hand so it creates a compound rhythm. So long as the momentum of the work is pressed onward, you are doing this work justice.About Jónas HalgrÃmsson (1807-1845) was an Icelandic poet, author and naturalist, who is considered one of Iceland's most renowned poets. Considered a Romantic writer, the strong imagery in his poetry was influenced heavily by the landscapes around him.The imagery, excitement, and curiosity of the universe leapt off the page and the music almost wrote itself. Reflecting on the cosmos and origin of the heavens, the poetry elicits excitement and stirs spatial imagery - ...speeding spark of light, ...wings swifter than wind..., ...I watched the stars...rise from the still stream of heaven... The pure and almost child-like fascination with the universe and its expansion and progression fuels the perpetual rhythm of the work as it continually pushes forward.A good friend asked if I would write a song for her ensemble. The original voicing, for SAB choir, contained parameters in that it had to be three-part with a limited range in the Bass part. With these stipulations I began to write. I searched for something that would be exciting for them and landed on Jonas Halgrimsson’s writings. I believe it is equally as exciting, accessible and challenging for treble choirs.Note to the DirectorTruly consider how the work can come to ‘life’ off the page. Rise and fall with phrase and sometimes each note. The magic exists beyond the ink on the page!Consideration to range, tessitura, and content was all considered as part of this process in creating music that is accessible to all programs and ensembles.Accompaniment NoteThe accompaniment can look intimidating, but please feel free to alter the pulsing eighth notes in the left hand with the eighth notes in the right-hand so it creates a compound rhythm. So long as the momentum of the work is pressed onward, you are doing this work justice.About Jónas HalgrÃmsson (1807-1845) was an Icelandic poet, author and naturalist, who is considered one of Iceland's most renowned poets. Considered a Romantic writer, the strong imagery in his poetry was influenced heavily by the landscapes around him.The imagery, excitement, and curiosity of the universe leapt off the page and the music almost wrote itself. Reflecting on the cosmos and origin of the heavens, the poetry elicits excitement and stirs spatial imagery - ...speeding spark of light, ...wings swifter than wind..., ...I watched the stars...rise from the still stream of heaven... The pure and almost child-like fascination with the universe and its expansion and progression fuels the perpetual rhythm of the work as it continually pushes forward.A good friend asked if I would write a song for her ensemble. The original voicing, for SAB choir, contained parameters in that it had to be three-part with a limited range in the Bass part. With these stipulations I began to write. I searched for something that would be exciting for them and landed on Jonas Halgrimsson’s writings. I believe it is equally as exciting, accessible and challenging for treble choirs.Note to the DirectorTruly consider how the work can come to ‘life’ off the page. Rise and fall with phrase and sometimes each note. The magic exists beyond the ink on the page!Consideration to range, tessitura, and content was all considered as part of this process in creating music that is accessible to all programs and ensembles.Accompaniment NoteThe accompaniment can look intimidating, but please feel free to alter the pulsing eighth notes in the left hand with the eighth notes in the right-hand so it creates a compound rhythm. So long as the momentum of the work is pressed onward, you are doing this work justice.
SKU: CF.CAS18
ISBN 9780825855016. UPC: 798408055011. 8.5 X 11 inches. Key: F major.
A truly masterful fantasy on an English folk song, this piece shows the exceptional musical development found in many of the greatest classical symphonies. The fantasy is roughly in the style of the classical rondo (ABACA) and features fine counterpoint and engaging melodies. This piece can be played in an orchestral and quartet setting and is both challenging and fun to play.My Fantasy on The Wee Cooper of Fife was one of four such fantasies I wrote for my daughter April when she was studying the violin, and I had hopes that when she reached the age of wisdom and proficiency she would play them with her friends. Life being what is it, she eventually gave up the violin and chose a completely different career for herself-though we are still the best of friends! I found the song in a collection of folk songs for children where it is called Rissoldy Rossoldy. Except for a few notes, the song was almost identical to the English folksong The Wee Cooper of Fife, which begins: There was a Wee Cooper named Fife / nickity nackety roo noo roo / He took him to wed a gentle wife / nickity nackety roo noo roo / She would na card she would na spin / for fear 't would harm her gentle skin.... The tune is rollicking and words are amusing, and yes, eventually they worked out their problems! The Fantasy is roughly in the style of the classical rondo, which is ABACA coda, such as one finds in the last movements of some of Haydn's later symphonies. This composition may be performed by a string orchestra or solo string quartet. - Douglas Townsend.MyA Fantasy on The Wee Cooper of FifeA was one of four such fantasies I wrote for my daughter April when she was studying the violin, and I had hopes that when she reached the age of wisdom and proficiency she would play them with her friends. Life being what is it, she eventually gave up the violin and chose a completely different career for herself-though we are still the best of friends! I found the song in a collection of folk songs for children where it is calledA Rissoldy Rossoldy.A Except for a few notes, the song was almost identical to the English folksongA The Wee Cooper of Fife, which begins: There was a Wee Cooper named Fife / nickity nackety roo noo roo / He took him to wed a gentle wife / nickity nackety roo noo roo / She would na card she would na spin / for fear 't would harm her gentle skin.... The tune is rollicking and words are amusing, and yes, eventually they worked out their problems! The Fantasy is roughly in the style of the classical rondo, which is ABACA coda, such as one finds in the last movements of some of Haydn's later symphonies. This composition may be performed by a string orchestra or solo string quartet. - Douglas Townsend.MyA Fantasy on The Wee Cooper of FifeA was one of four such fantasies I wrote for my daughter April when she was studying the violin, and I had hopes that when she reached the age of wisdom and proficiency she would play them with her friends. Life being what is it, she eventually gave up the violin and chose a completely different career for herself-though we are still the best of friends! I found the song in a collection of folk songs for children where it is calledA Rissoldy Rossoldy.A Except for a few notes, the song was almost identical to the English folksongA The Wee Cooper of Fife, which begins: There was a Wee Cooper named Fife / nickity nackety roo noo roo / He took him to wed a gentle wife / nickity nackety roo noo roo / She would na card she would na spin / for fear 't would harm her gentle skin.... The tune is rollicking and words are amusing, and yes, eventually they worked out their problems! The Fantasy is roughly in the style of the classical rondo, which is ABACA coda, such as one finds in the last movements of some of Haydn's later symphonies. This composition may be performed by a string orchestra or solo string quartet. - Douglas Townsend.My Fantasy on The Wee Cooper of Fife was one of four such fantasies I wrote for my daughter April when she was studying the violin, and I had hopes that when she reached the age of wisdom and proficiency she would play them with her friends. Life being what is it, she eventually gave up the violin and chose a completely different career for herself-though we are still the best of friends! I found the song in a collection of folk songs for children where it is called Rissoldy Rossoldy. Except for a few notes, the song was almost identical to the English folksong The Wee Cooper of Fife, which begins: There was a Wee Cooper named Fife / nickity nackety roo noo roo / He took him to wed a gentle wife / nickity nackety roo noo roo / She would na card she would na spin / for fear 't would harm her gentle skin.... The tune is rollicking and words are amusing, and yes, eventually they worked out their problems! The Fantasy is roughly in the style of the classical rondo, which is ABACA coda, such as one finds in the last movements of some of Haydn's later symphonies. This composition may be performed by a string orchestra or solo string quartet. - Douglas Townsend.My Fantasy on The Wee Cooper of Fife was one of four such fantasies I wrote for my daughter April when she was studying the violin, and I had hopes that when she reached the age of wisdom and proficiency she would play them with her friends. Life being what is it, she eventually gave up the violin and chose a completely different career for herself-though we are still the best of friends! I found the song in a collection of folk songs for children where it is called Rissoldy Rossoldy. Except for a few notes, the song was almost identical to the English folksong The Wee Cooper of Fife, which begins: There was a Wee Cooper named Fife / nickity nackety roo noo roo / He took him to wed a gentle wife / nickity nackety roo noo roo / She would na card she would na spin / for fear 't would harm her gentle skin.... The tune is rollicking and words are amusing, and yes, eventually they worked out their problems! The Fantasy is roughly in the style of the classical rondo, which is ABACA coda, such as one finds in the last movements of some of Haydn's later symphonies. This composition may be performed by a string orchestra or solo string quartet. - Douglas Townsend.My Fantasy on The Wee Cooper of Fife was one of four such fantasies I wrote for my daughter April when she was studying the violin, and I had hopes that when she reached the age of wisdom and proficiency she would play them with her friends. Life being what is it, she eventually gave up the violin and chose a completely different career for herself-though we are still the best of friends!I found the song in a collection of folk songs for children where it is called Rissoldy Rossoldy. Except for a few notes, the song was almost identical to the English folksong The Wee Cooper of Fife, which begins:There was a Wee Cooper named Fife / nickity nackety roo noo roo / He took him to wed a gentle wife / nickity nackety roo noo roo / She would na card she would na spin / for fear 't would harm her gentle skin....The tune is rollicking and words are amusing, and yes, eventually they worked out their problems!The Fantasy is roughly in the style of the classical rondo, which is ABACA coda, such as one finds in the last movements of some of Haydn's later symphonies.This composition may be performed by a string orchestra or solo string quartet.- Douglas Townsend.
About Carl Fischer Concert String Orchestra Series
This series of pieces (Grade 3 and higher) is designed for advancing ensembles. The pieces in this series are characterized by:
SKU: CF.CM9735
ISBN 9781491161159. UPC: 680160919741. Key: A minor. Latin, English. Christopher Smart and ZRS.
Origins of the Tarantella The tarantella is a popular southern Italian dance with origins in the 11th century. (There is even some mention of the tarantella in ancient Greek mythology.) Of the possible sources of the dance, the most popular comes from the villages of Tanto and Tarentum (little spider), Italy. During harvest, workers in the field were sometimes bitten by the tarantula spider. To combat the poison, the afflicted workers went into a frenetic, almost musical exorcism to sweat the venom out of their pores. In the millennium since, the very energetic nature of the dance has remained, although the curative focus of the dance has given way to more enjoyable endeavors, even stately courtship. Origins of the Text Christopher Smart (1722-1771), also known as Kit Smart or Jack Smart, was born in Kent, England and suffered from what is now believed to be acute asthma and other health issues as a child. As such, he did not work in the fields, but spent much time reading and writing, a passion that he nurtured for a lifetime. Well known in London literary circles, his career as a writer floundered due to mounting debts and his falling out of favor with the literary establishment: Sadly, he was forced to confinement at St. Luke's Hospital for Lunatics, though this was based on his mounting debt, and not on insanity. (Confinement, or debtor's prison, was common during this period if one's debts could not be paid.) During his confinement, he worked on two of his most famous works, Jubilate Agno and A Song of David. (Part of Jubilate Agno [Rejoice in the Lamb] was set to music by English composer, Benjamin Britten.) Smart's writing style (which, at times, bordered on the absurd), along with his many obsessions, lead to frequent misperceptions of his work and his lucidity. In this present work, portions of Smart's Jubilate Agno were used in mm. 24-31, 103-110 and 149-156. The remaining text was gathered by the composer, including the rapid, almost patter-like, delivery of words from A-Z in the alphabet. (Christopher Smart had a preoccupation with the alphabet.) These words both rhyme and accentuate the frenetic nature of the spider dance: theraphosa [teh-rah-fo-sa] a genus of tarantula spiders bellicose [beh-lee-ko-sah] hostile; aggressive odiosa [o-dee-o-sa] hateful; vexation tenebrosa [teh-neh-bro-sa] creeping; dark nemorosa [neh-mo-ro-sa] wooded; shady lapidosa [lah-pee-do-sa] stony area; gritty The convergence, then, of the medieval tarantella (spider dance), the writings of a brilliant poet who bordered on the absurd, and the infusion of strong, descriptive and otherwise random, rhyming words, synthesizes to make dramatic lyrics for this work. About the Composer Z. Randall Stroope is an American composer and conductor. He has served as Professor of Music at three universities (an Endowed Professor at two), conducted 47 all-state choirs, and directed over 40 times at Carnegie Hall, among other American venues. Randall guest conducts full-time, and composes from his home studios on Merritt Island, Florida and in Sandia Park, New Mexico. Performance Notes Text: In Latin, the r is flipped; use s instead of z on endings such as phosa, cosa, and so on; the Latin o is a cross between oh and aw; in the transliteration above, I chose to simply use an o for consistency. The director will blend the oh and aw in the rehearsals to his/her own preference. Lastly, tarantula is pronounced tah-rah-n-too-lah (avoid teh-ran-choo-luh) within the confines of this text. Stomp: This can be done by the entire chorus, or just the first row. It is as much visual as it is auditory. The string quartet is preferred over piano when that option affords itself. I created a piano score that is a viable option and included it in the piano/vocal score if a performance uses chorus/piano.The tarantella is a popular southern Italian dance with origins in the 11th century. (There is even some mention of the tarantella in ancient Greek mythology.) Of the possible sources of the dance, the most popular comes from the villages of Tanto and Tarentum (“little spiderâ€), Italy. During harvest, workers in the field were sometimes bitten by the tarantula spider. To combat the “poison,†the afflicted workers went into a frenetic, almost musical exorcism to sweat the venom out of their pores. In the millennium since, the very energetic nature of the dance has remained, although the curative focus of the dance has given way to more enjoyable endeavors, even stately courtship.Christopher Smart (1722-1771), also known as “Kit Smart†or “Jack Smart,†was born in Kent, England and suffered from what is now believed to be acute asthma and other health issues as a child. As such, he did not work in the fields, but spent much time reading and writing, a passion that he nurtured for a lifetime. Well known in London literary circles, his career as a writer floundered due to mounting debts and his falling out of favor with the literary establishment: Sadly, he was forced to confinement at St. Luke’s Hospital for Lunatics, though this was based on his mounting debt, and not on insanity. (Confinement, or debtor’s prison, was common during this period if one’s debts could not be paid.) During his confinement, he worked on two of his most famous works, Jubilate Agno and A Song of David. (Part of Jubilate Agno [“Rejoice in the Lambâ€] was set to music by English composer, Benjamin Britten.) Smart’s writing style (which, at times, bordered on the absurd), along with his many obsessions, lead to frequent misperceptions of his work and his lucidity. In this present work, portions of Smart’s Jubilate Agno were used in mm. 24-31, 103-110 and 149-156. The remaining text was gathered by the composer, including the rapid, almost patter-like, delivery of words from A-Z in the alphabet. (Christopher Smart had a preoccupation with the alphabet.) These words both rhyme and accentuate the frenetic nature of the spider dance:The convergence, then, of the medieval tarantella (spider dance), the writings of a brilliant poet who bordered on the absurd, and the infusion of strong, descriptive and otherwise random, rhyming words, synthesizes to make dramatic lyrics for this work.Z. Randall Stroope is an American composer and conductor. He has served as Professor of Music at three universities (an Endowed Professor at two), conducted 47 all-state choirs, and directed over 40 times at Carnegie Hall, among other American venues. Randall guest conducts full-time, and composes from his home studios on Merritt Island, Florida and in Sandia Park, New Mexico. In Latin, the “r†is flipped; use “s†instead of “z†on endings such as “phosa,†“cosa,†and so on; the Latin “o†is a cross between “oh†and “awâ€; in the transliteration above, I chose to simply use an “o†for consistency. The director will blend the “oh†and “aw†in the rehearsals to his/her own preference. Lastly, “tarantula†is pronounced “tah-rah-n-too-lah†(avoid “teh-ran-choo-luhâ€) within the confines of this text.Stomp: This can be done by the entire chorus, or just the first row. It is as much visual as it is auditory. The string quartet is preferred over piano when that option affords itself. I created a piano score that is a viable option and included it in the piano/vocal score if a performance uses chorus/piano.The tarantella is a popular southern Italian dance with origins in the 11th century. (There is even some mention of the tarantella in ancient Greek mythology.) Of the possible sources of the dance, the most popular comes from the villages of Tanto and Tarentum (“little spiderâ€), Italy. During harvest, workers in the field were sometimes bitten by the tarantula spider. To combat the “poison,†the afflicted workers went into a frenetic, almost musical exorcism to sweat the venom out of their pores. In the millennium since, the very energetic nature of the dance has remained, although the curative focus of the dance has given way to more enjoyable endeavors, even stately courtship.Christopher Smart (1722-1771), also known as “Kit Smart†or “Jack Smart,†was born in Kent, England and suffered from what is now believed to be acute asthma and other health issues as a child. As such, he did not work in the fields, but spent much time reading and writing, a passion that he nurtured for a lifetime. Well known in London literary circles, his career as a writer floundered due to mounting debts and his falling out of favor with the literary establishment: Sadly, he was forced to confinement at St. Luke’s Hospital for Lunatics, though this was based on his mounting debt, and not on insanity. (Confinement, or debtor’s prison, was common during this period if one’s debts could not be paid.) During his confinement, he worked on two of his most famous works, Jubilate Agno and A Song of David. (Part of Jubilate Agno [“Rejoice in the Lambâ€] was set to music by English composer, Benjamin Britten.) Smart’s writing style (which, at times, bordered on the absurd), along with his many obsessions, lead to frequent misperceptions of his work and his lucidity. In this present work, portions of Smart’s Jubilate Agno were used in mm. 24-31, 103-110 and 149-156. The remaining text was gathered by the composer, including the rapid, almost patter-like, delivery of words from A-Z in the alphabet. (Christopher Smart had a preoccupation with the alphabet.) These words both rhyme and accentuate the frenetic nature of the spider dance:The convergence, then, of the medieval tarantella (spider dance), the writings of a brilliant poet who bordered on the absurd, and the infusion of strong, descriptive and otherwise random, rhyming words, synthesizes to make dramatic lyrics for this work.Z. Randall Stroope is an American composer and conductor. He has served as Professor of Music at three universities (an Endowed Professor at two), conducted 47 all-state choirs, and directed over 40 times at Carnegie Hall, among other American venues. Randall guest conducts full-time, and composes from his home studios on Merritt Island, Florida and in Sandia Park, New Mexico.In Latin, the “r†is flipped; use “s†instead of “z†on endings such as “phosa,†“cosa,†and so on; the Latin “o†is a cross between “oh†and “awâ€; in the transliteration above, I chose to simply use an “o†for consistency. The director will blend the “oh†and “aw†in the rehearsals to his/her own preference. Lastly, “tarantula†is pronounced “tah-rah-n-too-lah†(avoid “teh-ran-choo-luhâ€) within the confines of this text.Stomp: This can be done by the entire chorus, or just the first row. It is as much visual as it is auditory. The string quartet is preferred over piano when that option affords itself. I created a piano score that is a viable option and included it in the piano/vocal score if a performance uses chorus/piano.
SKU: CF.CM9607
ISBN 9781491154298. UPC: 680160912797. 6.875 x 10.5 inches. Key: Db major. English. Lord George Gordon Byron (1788-1824).
Lord George Gordon Byron, described as mad, bad and dangerous to know, is one of the greatest British poets. He was known for his brilliant use of the English language, as well as his flamboyant lifestyle and romantic escapades. Scholars believe that Byron wrote She Walks in Beauty in 1814 when he met his cousin, Mrs. John Wilmont. It is an innocent poem, with seemingly only admiration of the subjects outer physical beauty and inner peace. Byron feels that the persons beauty is a perfect union of dark and light. The cloudless night is filled with soft starlight. She exudes a captivating purity, almost an expression of the divine. This is arguably Lord Byrons best known poem. .Lord George Gordon Byron, described as amad, bad and dangerous to know,a is one of the greatest British poets. He was known for his brilliant use of the English language, as well as his flamboyant lifestyle and romantic escapades. Scholars believe that Byron wrote She Walks in Beauty in 1814 when he met his cousin, Mrs. John Wilmont. It is an innocent poem, with seemingly only admiration of the subjectas outer physical beauty and inner peace. Byron feels that the personas beauty is a perfect union of dark and light. The cloudless night is filled with soft starlight. She exudes a captivating purity, almost an expression of the divine. This is arguably Lord Byronas best known poem. .Lord George Gordon Byron, described as mad, bad and dangerous to know, is one of the greatest British poets. He was known for his brilliant use of the English language, as well as his flamboyant lifestyle and romantic escapades. Scholars believe that Byron wrote She Walks in Beauty in 1814 when he met his cousin, Mrs. John Wilmont. It is an innocent poem, with seemingly only admiration of the subject's outer physical beauty and inner peace. Byron feels that the person's beauty is a perfect union of dark and light. The cloudless night is filled with soft starlight. She exudes a captivating purity, almost an expression of the divine. This is arguably Lord Byron's best known poem. .Lord George Gordon Byron, described as mad, bad and dangerous to know, is one of the greatest British poets. He was known for his brilliant use of the English language, as well as his flamboyant lifestyle and romantic escapades. Scholars believe that Byron wrote She Walks in Beauty in 1814 when he met his cousin, Mrs. John Wilmont. It is an innocent poem, with seemingly only admiration of the subject's outer physical beauty and inner peace. Byron feels that the person's beauty is a perfect union of dark and light. The cloudless night is filled with soft starlight. She exudes a captivating purity, almost an expression of the divine. This is arguably Lord Byron's best known poem. .Lord George Gordon Byron, described as “mad, bad and dangerous to know,†is one of the greatest British poets. He was known for his brilliant use of the English language, as well as his flamboyant lifestyle and romantic escapades.Scholars believe that Byron wrote She Walks in Beauty in 1814 when he met his cousin, Mrs. John Wilmont. It is an innocent poem, with seemingly only admiration of the subject’s outer physical beauty and inner peace. Byron feels that the person’s beauty is a perfect union of dark and light. The cloudless night is filled with soft starlight. She exudes a captivating purity, almost an expression of the divine. This is arguably Lord Byron’s best known poem. .
SKU: CF.CM9730
ISBN 9781491161098. UPC: 680160919697. Key: E lydian. English. The Vastness of the Universe Jonas Hallgrimsson (1807-1845).
About Jonas Halgrimsson (1807-1845) was an Icelandic poet, author and naturalist, who is considered one of Iceland's most renowned poets. Considered a Romantic writer, the strong imagery in his poetry was influenced heavily by the landscapes around him. The imagery, excitement, and curiosity of the universe leapt off the page and the music almost wrote itself. Reflecting on the cosmos and origin of the heavens, the poetry illicits excitement and stirs spatial imagery - ...speeding spark of light, ...wings swifter than wind..., ...I watched the stars...rise from the still stream of heaven.... The pure and almost child-like fascination with the universe and its expansion and progression fuels the perpetual rhythm of the work as it continually pushes forward. https://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/Jonas/Alheim/Alheim.html A good friend asked if I would write a song for her ensemble. The parameters were that it had to be three-part with a limited range in the Bass part. With these stipulations I began to write. I searched for something that would be exciting for them and landed on Jonas Halgrimsson's writings. There is such a need for three-part music that is both exciting, accessible, and challenging. Director's Note Truly consider how the work can come to 'life' off the page. Rise and fall with phrase and sometimes each note. The magic exists beyond the ink on the page! Consideration to range, tessitura, and content was all considered as part of this process in creating music that is accessible to all programs and ensembles Accompaniment Note The accompaniment can look intimidating, but please feel free to alter the pulsing eighth notes in the left hand with the eighth notes in the right-hand so it creates a compound rhythm. So long as the momentum of the work is pressed onward, you are doing this work justice.AboutJónas HalgrÃmsson (1807-1845) was an Icelandic poet, author and naturalist, who is considered one of Iceland's most renowned poets. Considered a Romantic writer, the strong imagery in his poetry was influenced heavily by the landscapes around him.The imagery, excitement, and curiosity of the universe leapt off the page and the music almost wrote itself. Reflecting on the cosmos and origin of the heavens, the poetry illicits excitement and stirs spatial imagery - ...speeding spark of light, ...wings swifter than wind..., ...I watched the stars...rise from the still stream of heaven....  The pure and almost child-like fascination with the universe and its expansion and progression fuels the perpetual rhythm of the work as it continually pushes forward.   https://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/Jonas/Alheim/Alheim.htmlA good friend asked if I would write a song for her ensemble. The parameters were that it had to be three-part with a limited range in the Bass part. With these stipulations I began to write. I searched for something that would be exciting for them and landed on Jonas Halgrimsson’s writings.  There is such a need for three-part music that is both exciting, accessible, and challenging. Director’s NoteTruly consider how the work can come to ‘life’ off the page. Rise and fall with phrase and sometimes each note. The magic exists beyond the ink on the page!Consideration to range, tessitura, and content was all considered as part of this process in creating music that is accessible to all programs and ensemblesAccompaniment NoteThe accompaniment can look intimidating, but please feel free to alter the pulsing eighth notes in the left hand with the eighth notes in the right-hand so it creates a compound rhythm. So long as the momentum of the work is pressed onward, you are doing this work justice.
SKU: PR.14440385S
UPC: 680160029907.
A shorter and less stringent work than my two previous quartets (1992 and 1994), the Fourth Quartet is comprised, almost obsessively, of the interplay between two thematic kernels: (1) a 5-note motto, announced at the outset, derived from pitches in my own name; and (2) a brief legato line of expressive sevenths (minor/major), which is itself born out of the first cell. Both of these fragments constantly pervade the entire work, albeit in ever-changing raiment. The piece is extremely classical in design: four movements played without interruption - slow/fast/slow/fast - with the first and third sections alternating declamatory and calmer gestures, and the second and fourth being, in effect, almost variants of each other. Quartet No. 4 is approximately 20 minutes in duration and each movement, as noted, was written in memory of dear friends who passed away during late 1995 and early 1996. The work was completed in April of 1996 in Ormond, Florida and Fairport, New York. --Sydney Hodkinson.A shorter and less stringent work than my two previous quartets (1992 and 1994), the Fourth Quartet is comprised, almost obsessively, of the interplay between two thematic kernels: (1) a 5-note motto, announced at the outset, derived from pitches in my own name; and (2) a brief legato line of expressive sevenths (minor/major), which is itself born out of the first cell. Both of these fragments constantly pervade the entire work, albeit in ever-changing raiment.The piece is extremely classical in design: four movements played without interruption – slow/fast/slow/fast – with the first and third sections alternating declamatory and calmer gestures, and the second and fourth being, in effect, almost variants of each other.Quartet No. 4 is approximately 20 minutes in duration and each movement, as noted, was written in memory of dear friends who passed away during late 1995 and early 1996. The work was completed in April of 1996 in Ormond, Florida and Fairport, New York.—Sydney Hodkinson.
SKU: HL.14033723
ISBN 9788759891322. Danish.
Together Apart/Apart Together for Saxophone, Accordion and Double Bass was composed by Karsten Fundal in 2004. Written for and commissioned by Poing. Programme note: This piece is the 3rd in a row of pieces, which concentrates on a rhythmical relationship that continues to puzzle me. It is actually two relationships embedded. The 1st is a pattern that is very inspired by the composer Per Norgard, who in the beginning of the 90's got very preoccupied with the idea that you can have rhythms that never meet. This happens if you start a rhythm, like a quintuplet, on the beat and one, like a triplet, off beat. This can, with different rhythms, give very intricate interwoven patterns, that gives the illusion that they are not cyclic. In my case I use the two ratio five to seven, in the described way. This rythms have the strange property that if you take each 5th note of the seven and each 7 note of the five you get a ratio almost identical: 49:50. This is very intriguing, as you can use the possibility of letting them be equal or the possibility of letting them interfere. In the first case you get an interlocking rhythm which is smooth: an equal rhythmic pattern. In the second case you get a similar situation, but where one of them is one short after 50 of the other ones, which results in a disturbing almost equality, but not quite. Therefore the title: because when I use the unequal rhythm I put the two layers in a similar tone register, or a similar way of playing, and when I use the equal one I put them a part tone wise speaking. This is a very technical description, but it is very hard to put it in more wide terms, but you might compare it with driving in a train and looking at two fence rows behind each other: if the poles are placed exactly halfway between each other you will experience an illusion of a fast jump if there is enough distance between them, as a result of the perspective. If they are placed in a way that there are almost the same numbers of poles, like 49:50, you will experience a very complex pattern, which seems unpredictable. But of course when using it in music the whole thing is somewhat different, but even then it gives an idea of my preoccupation. What also intrigues me is that the relations are very hard to use in a musical way, and that is also quire a challenge.' Finally I have to say that I enjoyed very much writing for Poing, as these crazy guys are capable of doing almost anything you want in an nearly literal sense. - Karsten Fundal summer 2004.
SKU: CF.MXE110
ISBN 9781491151167. UPC: 680160908660. 9 x 12 inches.
For the 20th anniversary season of the Cassatt String Quartet, Godfrey created a three-movement work that has been hailed as some of the most ambitious chamber music we have heard from any living composer. (New Music Connoisseur) Built on the concept of looking back/looking forward, Ricordanza-Speranzo opens with a quiet, reflective movement, before a furious second movement of ever-shifting meter (con furore). The third movement begins with a piano solo passage. Natalie Zhu, who performed the Philadelphia premiere with the Daedalus Quartet, says, There's a huge piano solo at the beginning, and it's almost like an improvisation. It's written out but it feels like you're improvising. When the strings join in, Zhu says, It's almost like a waltz. It's lively and pretty, and the strings and piano are having fun. We're trading melodies. It's almost like a conversation between the instruments.
SKU: HL.49033271
ISBN 9790001136877. 9.0x12.0x0.088 inches. German.
Kafka's ouvre is interspersed with moments of utter anxiety. Moments in which, induced by adrenalin, the blood pressure rises. Blood vessels which seem to constrict, pump enormous quantities of blood the pressure of which might make one believe that the head is going to explode. In The Judgment, an innocent opening story leads to one of the most unusual showdowns in world literature: The beloved father sentences his son to death by drowning; the son immediately obeys since his life, his existence almost explodes, becomes blurred, dissolves at the moment the judgment is pronounced. For me, the 'self' driving him - I imagine this as a high sound in the inner ear - could only be a soprano. This is why the actual 'fall' has turned out to be clear, almost friendly and why Georg only seems to want to breathe a soft and quiet 'Dear parents, I have always loved you' during the fall while no longer keeping the singing tone, shortly before death, almost casually, takes hold of him. Christian Jost.
SKU: HL.48025289
ISBN 9783793144267. UPC: 196288172130. 9.0x12.0x0.045 inches.
I am Cello is one of several solo pieces by means of which the Australian-based composer remained in contact with her interpreters all over the world during the time of the coronavirus pandemic, composing and communicating via video and streaming. It was written for the cellist Benedict Kloeckner and produced by him at the SWR Studio Kaiserslautern in autumn 2020 and released on CD by Brilliant Classics the following year. The requirement to write something short to be played between the Bach Solo Suites alongside the music of other composers quickly gave rise to the idea of a piece that “is almost a song and tells almost a story. It is also almost a waltz, but a slow one. I see this piece like a flower bulb that opens up over the course of 2-3 minutes,†says Elena Kats-Chernin.
SKU: HL.14033692
1. The Native Land of Light (for mixed chorus, SATB) 2. Come lift me up (for mixed chorus, SATB -) -) the second movement may be performed by a children's chorus or by the female voices (SSA) from a mixed chorus Programme Note From my very first aquaintance with these Andersen poems, I was deeply moved by the simple, almost naive, yet evocative imagery, with which Andersen realized his visions, images like: The Melody of the Heart, The Poem of Beauty, A Spiritual Hindustan, Fly, Death, over the Sea of Time, fly to Eternal Summer. Along with this childishness Hans Christian Andersen's poetry encompasses enormous - almost Willim Blake-ish - cosmic visions, in theinterpolations between e.g. reaching the Heaven as opposed to you'll find it in a Rosebud, or the juxtaposition of Everyday Life and Eternal Poetry - which become one. Thus the music came to life in my immediate encounter with these words, which almost sang themselves into my Musical Furnace - if you will. Per Norgard.
SKU: CF.BF141
ISBN 9781491159989. UPC: 680160918584.
The three pieces From Jewish Life were composed by Swiss-American composer Ernest Bloch in 1924, the same year he took U.S. citizenship. Though clearly inspired and influenced by Jewish experience, they are purely concert pieces, and do not provide any specific liturgical significance.The first movement, Prayer, is a deeply heartfelt plea to the almighty. As Neil W Levin writes, The initial four-note motive in the minor mode, together with its elaboration in the ensuing phrases, sounds as if it might have served as the skeletal model for Max Janowski's (1912-1991) now well-known setting of the High Holyday prayer Avinu Malkenu. This prayer has special meaning in my own spiritual life, as I have been singing it since my childhood. Both Prayer and Janowski's Avinu Malkenu are cantorial in nature, to be sung with heartfelt pathos.The second movement, Supplication (the act of begging humbly), has more angst, almost a sense of urgency as a result of the rhythmic motor in the piano. The third movement, Jewish Song, evokes a quintessentially Eastern-European melancholy. Its falling motives with bent intonation might represent the pain of the Jewish experience.The works were dedicated to Dutch-American cellist Hans Kindler, a highly influential musician of his time, and founder of the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C. Mr. Kindler was the soloist for the world premiere of Bloch's most celebrated work, Schelomo in 1917.Though the popularity of Bloch's oeuvre has been dominated by works of Jewish connection, we should not forget that Bloch had many other stylistic periods, including Franco-Belgian, modal, serial, and even American folk. In 1927, he was awarded Musical America's composition prize in a unanimous vote, despite being regarded as an outsider by American music writers at the time. His winning work America (1928) was performed by every major orchestra and conductor in the following seasons. May we be proud of his contributions to American music.The three pieces From Jewish Life were composed by Swiss-American composer Ernest Bloch in 1924, the same year he took U.S. citizenship. Though clearly inspired and influenced by Jewish experience, they are purely concert pieces, and do not provide any specific liturgical significance. The first movement, Prayer, is a deeply heartfelt plea to the almighty. As Neil W Levin writes, The initial four-note motive in the minor mode, together with its elaboration in the ensuing phrases, sounds as if it might have served as the skeletal model for Max Janowski's (1912-1991) now well-known setting of the High Holyday prayer Avinu Malkenu. This prayer has special meaning in my own spiritual life, as I have been singing it since my childhood. Both Prayer and Janowski's Avinu Malkenu are cantorial in nature, to be sung with heartfelt pathos. The second movement, Supplication (the act of begging humbly), has more angst, almost a sense of urgency as a result of the rhythmic motor in the piano. The third movement, Jewish Song, evokes a quintessentially Eastern-European melancholy. Its falling motives with bent intonation might represent the pain of the Jewish experience. The works were dedicated to Dutch-American cellist Hans Kindler, a highly influential musician of his time, and founder of the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C. Mr. Kindler was the soloist for the world premiere of Bloch's most celebrated work, Schelomo in 1917. Though the popularity of Bloch's oeuvre has been dominated by works of Jewish connection, we should not forget that Bloch had many other stylistic periods, including Franco-Belgian, modal, serial, and even American folk. In 1927, he was awarded Musical America's composition prize in a unanimous vote, despite being regarded as an outsider by American music writers at the time. His winning work America (1928) was performed by every major orchestra and conductor in the following seasons. May we be proud of his contributions to American music.The three pieces From Jewish Life were composed by Swiss-American composer Ernest Bloch in 1924, the same year he took U.S. citizenship. Though clearly inspired and influenced by Jewish experience, they are purely concert pieces, and do not provide any specific liturgical significance.The first movement, “Prayerâ€, is a deeply heartfelt plea to the almighty. As Neil W Levin writes, “The initial four-note motive in the minor mode, together with its elaboration in the ensuing phrases, sounds as if it might have served as the skeletal model for Max Janowski’s (1912–1991) now well-known setting of the High Holyday prayer Avinu Malkenu.†This prayer has special meaning in my own spiritual life, as I have been singing it since my childhood. Both “Prayer†and Janowski’s Avinu Malkenu are cantorial in nature, to be sung with heartfelt pathos.The second movement, “Supplication†(the act of begging humbly), has more angst, almost a sense of urgency as a result of the rhythmic motor in the piano. The third movement, “Jewish Songâ€, evokes a quintessentially Eastern-European melancholy. Its falling motives with bent intonation might represent the pain of the Jewish experience.The works were dedicated to Dutch-American cellist Hans Kindler, a highly influential musician of his time, and founder of the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C. Mr. Kindler was the soloist for the world premiere of Bloch’s most celebrated work, Schelomo in 1917.Though the popularity of Bloch’s oeuvre has been dominated by works of Jewish connection, we should not forget that Bloch had many other stylistic periods, including Franco-Belgian, modal, serial, and even American folk. In 1927, he was awarded Musical America’s composition prize in a unanimous vote, despite being regarded as an outsider by American music writers at the time. His winning work America (1928) was performed by every major orchestra and conductor in the following seasons. May we be proud of his contributions to American music.
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