SKU: MH.1-59913-054-8

ISBN 9781599130545.

Royal Coronation Dances is the first sequel to the Fanfare Ode & Festival, both being settings of dance music originally arranged by Gervaise in the mid 16th-century (the next sequel is The Renaissance Fair, which uses music of Susato and Praetorius). Fanfare Ode & Festival has been performed by many tens of thousands of students, both in high school and junior high school. I have heard that some of them are amazed that the music they are playing was first played and danced to over 400 years ago. Some students tend to think that music started with Handel and his Messiah to be followed by Beethoven and his Fifth Symphony, with naught in between or before of consequence. Although Royal Coronation Dances is derived from the same source as Fanfare Ode & Festival, they are treated in different ways. I envisioned this new suite programmatically -- hence the descriptive movement titles, which I imagined to be various dances actually used at some long-ago coronation. The first movement depicts the guests, both noble and common, flanked by flag and banner bearers, arriving at the palace to view the majestic event. They are festive, their flags swirling the air, their cloaks brightly colored. In the second movement, the queen in stately measure moves to take her place on the throne as leader and protector of the realm. In the third movement, the jesters of the court entertain the guests with wild games of sport. Musically, there are interesting sonorities to recreate. Very special attention should be given to the tambourine/tenor drum part in the first movement. Their lively rhythms give the movement its power. Therefore they should be played as distinctly and brilliantly as possible. The xylophone and glockenspiel add clarity, but must not be allowed to dominate. Observe especially the differing dynamics; the intent is to allow much buzzing bass to penetrate. The small drum (starting at meas. 29) should be played expressively, with attention to the notated articulations, with the brass light and detached, especially in a lively auditorium. It is of some further interest that the first dance is extremely modal. The original is clearly in G mixolydian mode (scale: G-A-B-C-D-E-F-G). However, other editors might put in F-sharps in many places (changing the piece almost to G major), in the belief that such ficta would have been automatically put in by the 16th-century performers as they played. I doubt it. I have not only eschewed these within the work, but even at the cadences. So this arrangement is most distinctly modal (listen to the F-naturals in meas. 22 and 23, for instance), with all the part-writing as Gervaise wrote it. In the second movement, be careful that things do not become too glued together. In the 16th century this music might have been played by a consort of recorders, instruments very light of touch and sensitive to articulation. Concert band can easily sound heavy, and although this movement has been scored for tutti band, it must not sound it. It is essential, therefore, that you hear all the instruments, with none predominating. Only when each timbre can be heard separately and simultaneously will the best blend occur, and consequently the greatest transparency. So aim for a transparent, spacious tutti sound in this movement. Especially have the flutes, who do this so well, articulate rather sharply, so as to produce a chiffing sound, and do not allow the quarter-notes to become too tied together in the entire band. The entrance of the drums (first tenor, then bass) are events and as such should be audible. Incidentally, this movement begins in F Major and ends in D Minor: They really didn't care so much about those things then. The third movement (one friend has remarked that it is the most Margolisian of the bunch, but actually I am just getting subtler, I hope) again relies upon the percussion (and the scoring) to make its points. Xylophone in this movement is meant to be distinctly audible. Therefore, be especially sure that the xylophone player is secure in the part, and also that the tambourine and toms sound good. This movement must fly or it will sink, so rev up the band and conduct it in 1 for this mixolydian jesting. I suppose the wildly unrelated keys (clarinets and then brass at the end) would be a good 16th-century joke, but to us, our put-up-the-chorus-a-half-step ears readily accept such shenanigans. Ensemble instrumentation: 1 Full Score, 1 Piccolo, 4 Flute 1, 4 Flute 2 & 3, 2 Oboe 1 & 2, 2 Bassoon 1 & 2, 1 Eb Clarinet, 4 Bb Clarinet 1, 4 Bb Clarinet 2, 4 Bb Clarinet 3, 2 Eb Alto Clarinet, 1 Eb Contra Alto Clarinet, 3 Bb Bass & Bb Contrabass Clarinet, 2 Eb Alto Saxophone 1, 2 Eb Alto Saxophone 2, 2 Bb Tenor Saxophone, 2 Eb Baritone Saxophone, 3 Bb Trumpet 1, 3 Bb Trumpet 2, 3 Bb Trumpet 3, 4 Horn in F 1 & 2, 2 Trombone 1, 4 Trombone 2 & 3, 3 Euphonium (B.C.), 2 Euphonium (T.C.), 4 Tuba, 1 String Bass, 1 Timpani (optional), 2 Xylophone & Glockenspiel, 5 Percussion.

SKU: HL.49021114

ISBN 9790001119146.

Flote in C (Oboe oder Klarinette in C), Klarinette in Es, Klarinette I und II in B, Flugelhorn I und II in B, Horn I und II in Es, Trompete I und II in B, Tenorhorn I, II und III in B, Posaune (Bassschlussel), Posaune (Violinschlussel), Bariton (Bassschlussel), Bariton (Violinschlussel), Tuba (Bassschlussel), Tuba (Violinschlussel), Schlagzeug.

SKU: HL.44007399

UPC: 884088251673. 9x12 inches.

This cheerful little gem is based on the carol Feliz Natal. Skillfully arranged for the important grade 1 1/2 level (which is where young bands really begin to break away from the most basic concepts into much more expressive ideas), it fills a definite need in the arena of young band holiday literature. All the instruments have engaging parts to play, and you'll especially appreciate the manageable-but-fun low brass and low woodwind parts.

SKU: HL.44001921

UPC: 073999819113. 6.75x10.5 inches.

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer told the story of Rudolph, a young reindeer who was teased by the other deer because of his large, glowing, red nose. But, when Christmas Eve turned foggy the former outcast saved Christmas by leading the sleigh by the light of his red nose. This version for concert band by Naohiro Iwai is perfect as a cheerful interlude and will soon find a firm place in your Christmas repertoire.

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer told the story of Rudolph, a young reindeer who was teased by the other deer because of his large, glowing, red nose. But, when Christmas Eve turned foggy the former outcast saved Christmas by leading the sleigh by the light of his red nose. This version for concert band by Naohiro Iwai is perfect as a cheerful interlude and will soon find a firm place in your Christmas repertoire.

Rudolph, das rotnasige Rentier aus Nordamerika, das zuerst von seinen Artgenossen nur ausgelacht wird, dann aber als Zugtier fur den Schlitten vom Weihnachtsmann Karriere macht, erfreut sich mittlerweile auch in Europa grosser Beliebtheit. Die gelungene Blasorchesterbearbeitung des lustigen Liedes von Naohiro Iwai sorgt fur frohliche Stimmung und wird sich schnell einen festen Platz in Ihrem Weihnachts-konzertrepertoire erobern.

Parmi les rennes du Pere Noel, il en est un pas comme les autres : il s'appelle Rudolph et a un nez rouge. Il est ne de l'imaginaire du poete Robert L. May, un soir de 1939. Son histoire fera le tour du monde et enchantera des generations d'enfants. La musique est lumineuse et joyeuse. Un standard de Noel !

Tra le renne di Babbo Natale c'e ne e una diversa dalle altre: si chiama Rudolph ed ha il naso rosso. E' nata dall'immaginazione del poeta Robert L. May, una sera del 1939. La sua storia fara il giro del mondo e deliziera intere generazioni di bambini. La musica e luminosa e gioiosa. Un vero piacere per esecutori e pubblico!

SKU: HL.44004586

UPC: 073999045864. 9x12 inches.

The musical heritage of the United States is rich with folk songs from across the country. We can understand a great deal about society, culture and traditions through these folk songs. The folk tune used in this work has had many lives, from early church singing, to pub songs, to a marching song.