SKU: CF.YPS208F

ISBN 9781491152966. UPC: 680160910465.

A stunning and heart-wrenching composition based on the Jewish folk son Shlof, Mayn Kind. You can hear the emotional content pour out of this piece written in memory of an outstanding orchestra director. The piece beginnings with original material to set the tone, followed by a clarinet solo on the song. It then develops through a variety of different harmonic presentation before building to a nice key change and climatic moment. The piece ends as it began, but with a more hopeful tone. An amazing piece.
Sleep, My Child was commissioned by the Madison Middle School Band and Orchestra in Tampa, Florida, and is dedicated to the memory of their Director of Orchestras Kevin Frye. Director of Bands Chris Shultz championed the commissioning of this piece to honor Kevin after he passed away in December 2016. Mr. Frye was a beloved member of the staff at Madison Middle as well as the music community of Tampa and the state of Florida. I was a personal friend of Kevin’s. We were in several musical groups together when we were young that were formative to both of our musical careers. I also guest conducted his Madison Middle School Orchestra several times over the past four years. His musicianship, teaching skills and love for his students were exemplary.When taking on the challenge of writing a piece to honor Kevin’s legacy, Mr. Shultz and I decided to try and include several important aspects of Kevin’s life into the piece. Kevin was proudly Jewish, a fantastic trumpet player and loved Jazz. With that in mind, and after a lot of research, a Jewish folk song Shlof, Mayn Kind was selected as the basis for the piece, not to be religious, but to honor his faith and heritage. Plus it is a beautiful song, and I felt the title reflected the sentiment I was looking to express, which is of someone taking rest after a long battle with illness. Thus, a lullaby seemed appropriate.I also wanted to incorporate Jazz into the piece, but in a concert setting, so you will hear as the piece develops, the harmonies of the folk song expand into ones found more commonly in Jazz compositions. Not in a far out way, but in a subtle way to again honor this part of his life. For example the climactic moment of the piece at the fermata in m. 57 is a Dbmaj9#11 chord. It appropriately give the piece the angst that I was looking for at this moment in the piece, while honoring the importance of Jazz in Kevin’s musical life.The piece was also conceived to include both the Madison band and orchestra in the performance at the premiere. I wanted the pieces to work separately by the band and separately by the orchestra, but I also wanted them to be able to play the piece together to honor Kevin.The piece begins with original material designed to set the mood of the piece with a tempo/style marking of pensive, but also as material that I used as connective musical tissue between statements of the folk song.  After this introduction, the folk song is presented by a solo violin (or clarinet) with orchestral accompaniment in a simple straight forward presentation of the song. This is followed by a woodwind section statement of the folk song accompanied by muted trumpets. During this presentation the harmony starts to expand with more color notes in the chords. The low brass are added half way through this statement to add depth and lushness.The introductory material returns, but with some angry hits in the lower voices. This leads to a full ensemble state of new material that is used to transition to the climax of the piece, and to build tension. After the build, the piece modulates to a shortened statement of the folk song with more advanced harmonies and an active counter line in the violas, horns, saxes and first clarinets to further build the tension.  This tension is released at the fermata in m. 57, as mentioned above. After a thoughtful pause, the piece concludes with a completion of the folk song again with a solo violin (or clarinet) followed by a return of the introductory material to tie the piece together. The piece ends hopeful, with a solo trumpet (Kevin’s instrument) that is dissonant at first, but then resolves as if to say - everything will be OK! It has been my distinct honor to have been asked to write this piece in Kevin’s memory! I hope that in some small way the piece helps to bring comfort to his family, students, colleagues and to all those that knew him!–Larry ClarkLakeland, FL  2017.

SKU: CF.YPS207

ISBN 9781491152270. UPC: 680160909773. Key: C minor.

Factory Child is a protest song against child sweatshops. The piece depicts the factory life of children laboring many hours a day and manufacturing the shoes and clothes that end up in American retail stores. Young performers will find this thought-provoking piece an excellent way to use their musical voice to affect change.
Factory Child is a protest song against child sweatshops. Written in memory of Mrs. Peterson, who loved children dearly, the piece depicts the factory life of children laboring 16+ hours a day, manufacturing the shoes and clothes that end up in American retail stores.Factory Child begins with factory sounds and an oppressive, repetitive pattern that supports the melody carried by the upper voices. The second section is composed of wistful, dream-like sounds and melodies that have traces of children’s songs that remind us that these children forced into labor would love to have the opportunity to play, attend school, and dream, but cannot and realistically have little hope for a life we consider normal.  The middle section gives way to more sounds from the factory. The climax is a raucous circus-like waltz using themes from both sections.The percussion parts can be covered by six players. Some players will need to cover two parts. Use someone from the wind section if you do not have six, as some of the parts, although important, are not very difficult. The second clarinet never goes over the break and the bass line is usually doubled in the euphonium as well as in the low reeds.This piece is an excellent way for young performers to use their musical voice to affect change. It is a great discussion starter for researching where our apparel comes from and why to stay away from some brands. It can also make students aware of the fantastic opportunity they have to attend school that children in other parts of the world do not. Young students will find this piece very thought provoking.Ed Kiefer .

SKU: BT.GOB-000915-140

Based on the poems by German poet Carl Hauptmann (late Romanticism) and the English poet William Wordsworth (early Romanticism).

Carl Hauptmann was in poor health as a child, but highly intelligent. He studied philosophy, psychology and biology. In the latter he was admitted to the degree of doctor. His marriage provided financial independence, so that he could focus on his studies.
Hauptmann wrote various novels, plays, poetry and scientific works.

Night

Twilight floats above the valley's night
mists are hanging,
there's a whispering brook.
Now the covering veil is lifting quite:
come and look!
See the magicland before our gaze:
tall as dreams the silver mountains stand,
crossed by silent silver paths shining from a secret land.
Noble, pure, the dreaming country sleeps.
By the path the shadow black and hogh of a beach.
a wisp of a white smoke creeps to the dark'ning sky.
Where the valley is the darkest hued countless little lights shine silently.
O my soul!
Drink of solitude!



Carl Hauptmann



Wordsworth 'introduced' a new type of poetry, based on the speech of the common man. This was his answer to the poetry of the classicism which was bound by rigid rules. His definition of poetry was: the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings from emotions recollected in tranquility.

My heart leaps up when I behold a rainbow in the sky

My heart leaps up when I behold A rainbow in the sky:
So was it when my life began.
So is it now I am a man.
So be it when I shall grow old,
Or let me die!
The Child is father of the Man.
And I could wish my days to be Bound each to each by natural piety.


William Wordsworth

In a truly poetic manner Harrie Janssen has transformed the contemplative thoughts of the poets into two compositions for Concert Band.

Two Symphonic Interludes is gebaseerd op gedichten van de Duitse dichter Carl Hauptmann (laat Romantiek) en de Engelse dichter William Wordsworth (vroeg Romantiek).

Carl Hauptmann had als kind een zeer zwakke gezondheidmaar was zeer intelligent. Hij studeerde Filosofie, Psychologie en Biologie. In het laatste vak promoveerde hij. Het huwelijk zorgde voor financiele onafhankelijkheid zodat hij zich kon richten op zijn verdere studie. Hauptmannschreef enkele romans, toneelstukken, poëzie en wetenschappelijke werken.

NIGHT - Carl Hauptmann

Twilight floats above the valley's night
mists are hanging,
there's a whispering brook.
Now thecovering veil is lifting quite:
come and look!
See the magic land before our gaze:
tall as dreams the silver mountains stand,
crossed by silent silver paths shining from a secret land.
Noble, pure, thedreaming country sleeps.
By the path the shadow black and hogh of a beech.
a wisp of a white smoke creeps to the dark'ning sky.
Where the valley is the darkest hued countless little lights shine silently.
O mysoul!
Drink of solitude!

Wordsworth 'introduceerde' een nieuw soort poëzie, gebaseerd op de taal van de gewone man. Het was een reactie op de aan strenge regels gebonden poëzie van het Classicisme. Zijn definitievan poëzie luidde: 'the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings from emotions recollected in tranquility'.

My heart leaps up when I behold a rainbow in the sky - William Wordsworth

My heart leaps up whenI behold
A rainbow in the sky:
So was it when my life began.
So is it now I am a man.
So be it when I shall grow old,
Or let me die!
The Child is father of the Man.
And I could wish my days to be

SKU: CF.SPS82F

ISBN 9781491153277. UPC: 680160910779.

Resignation was composed in memory of one of Ed Kiefer's best friends. Evoking the struggle of coming to grips with the loss of a dear friend, the piece is based on the hymn, My Shepherd Will Supply My Need. It is dramatic, heartfelt, and overwhelmingly beautiful. As Hans Christian Andersen once said, When words fail, music speaks..
Dr. David S. Kirby Commission Consortium Phillip Riggs, Commission CoordinatorNorthwest District Bandmasters AssociationRodney Workman, Past-Chair Andrew Jimeson, ChairWestern North Carolina Bandmasters AssociationAllen Klaes, ChairNorth Carolina School of Science and MathPhillip Riggs, DirectorA.C. Reynolds High School BandSean Smith, DirectorSouth Caldwell High School BandJason Childers, DirectorJay M. Robinson Symphonic BandAndrew Carter, DirectorApex High School BandDaniel Jarvis, DirectorPanther Creek High School BandDavid Robinson, DirectorEastern Randolph High School BandCarolina Perez, DirectorStanley County Concert Band/Pfeiffer University Concert BandCarmella Hedrick, Tim Hedrick and Frank Poolos, DirectorsLenoir Rhyne University Wind SymphonyDr. Daniel Kiser, ConductorDr. Christopher NegrelliNumerous colleagues, fellow teachers, and former studentsProgram NotesThere is no possible way I could compose a piece of music worthy of the memory of my close friend, Dr. David Kirby, who died very suddenly at an early age. Neither could I write a piece that could come close to reflecting his kind spirit, wit, personality or talent. In fact, it was almost impossible for me to write anything at all. My own grief and the stages of my grief kept getting in the way. I ended up with a setting of the hymn-tune, Resignation. Resigned.  To the fact that he is no longer with us. I know he is in a better place, but we are not. We miss him very much. And so, My Shepherd Will Supply My Need seems to speak to those of us he left behind. I apologize if this piece does not reflect your special feelings for him or help you celebrate his moving on. Unfortunately, I could only put down what I have come to accept and hope in some way it may speak to any of you that knew him or to others of you who have also lost a close friend. My Shepherd Will Supply My Need. That is my hope and my hope for you.Although technically very easy, this composition requires a maturity of musicianship to be performed properly. The Bb contrabass clarinet part is integral to the composition, but there are cues in the tuba part if you need them.  Make sure you bring horns to the fore at m. 53 and the low brass at m. 59 so the melody can be heard without effort. Exaggerate dynamics to bring more emotion to the piece. Be careful not to diminuendo too soon near the end or it will be difficult to diminish even further at the very end, where the lone clarinetist holds over a couple of measures, fading into nothing. I hope your students will enjoy this piece and take from it a greater appreciation for the way making music can express feelings.