SKU: HL.48181113

UPC: 888680862053. 9x12 inches.

The Little Negro was originally composed by Claude Debussy (1862-1918) for piano in 1909. The purpose was to write a great work that could also played by children. Eugène Bozza made the piece even more accessible in 1984 by arranging it for wind quintet. The Little Negro is marked Allegro and begins with a theme modelled on ragtime music, a style which was very popular at the time of composition. Jazz influences, the C major key signature, 2/4 meter and upbeat features make for an exciting and accessible piece for all the ensemble. Bozza's arrangement of Debussy's The Little Negro for a wind quintet made up of flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon and horn is a thrilling addition to the repertoire.

SKU: SU.32040050

Woodwind Quintet (Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Horn, Bassoon) Duration: 6' Composed: 2012 Published by: Amy Mills Music, LLC 3 movements I. Seven Toes Down II. En Pointe III. Muddy Boots This charming suite has three short movements, each with its own character. The suite bursts open with breathless energy. Seven Toes Down is modal, in 7/8 time, with people dancing in bare feet on bare ground, so vigorously that it kicks up the dust. En Pointe opens with a lovely waltz, then it focuses in on the tiny, delicate movements of a ballerina high up on her toes. Muddy Boots is big strong guys, covered with dirt from a hard day of work, practicing one-upmanship. Different players have the chance to show what they can do, surrounded by their friends. Then we catch another glimpse of the ballerina before closing playfully with Seven Toes Down. Difficulty Level: 4 (Advanced) See composer website for audio sample.

SKU: HL.49016219

ISBN 9790001146449. UPC: 884088202538. 9.0x12.0x0.195 inches.

The chiaroscuro-technique developed by painters of the Italian renaissance served to intensify contrasts and effects of optical depth. In Klar/Obskur, I tried to transfer the general idea of this technique on the rather unusual instrumentation of two double-reed woodwinds and piano. On the one hand, a clear, well articulated playing is characteristic for these instruments, on the other hand, they have an often underestimated potential of 'twilight': air-sounds and fragile, shady colours have a especially attractive when being produced by double-reed instruments (which are often, and superficially regarded as being less capable of differentiated sounds than flute or clarinet). The piano, too, has a broad bandwidth of possibilities between percussive and delicate playing to complement the woodwinds which, in return, can absorb and continue the fading piano sounds.The beginning introduces the two contrasting elements that form the basic material for the piece: a clear, sharp chord, followed by fragile, dim sounds. The changes between these elements as well as their combination and amalgamation produce an enormous spectrum of colours and gesture. After this 'motto-like' opening follow four quite clearly separated short sections, each of them being characterised by a well-defined texture: a partly almost imperceptible air-sound passage, a short sequence of microintervallic notes, a burst of virtuosity and a recourse to the fragile sounds of the beginning.The second, longer main part consists of three sections merging subtly into each other: a short unisono-passage, marked elastic [federnd], is being dissolved into its basic elements; from these remainders, a confrontation of low, 'arcane' bassoon and piano sounds and a strongly ornamented melodic line of the oboe emerges, leading to a short but powerful climax. The piece is concluded by an extended, relaxed epilogue, containing a short piano solo and a duet of oboe and bassoon and, finally, a quotation of the 'elastic' character of the middle section.Benjamin Schweitzer.