Band Bass Clarinet, Bass Drum, Bassoon, Bells, Clarinet 1, Clarinet 2, Euphonium, Euphonium T.C., Flute, Flute 2, Horn, Mallet Percussion, Oboe, Percussion 1, Percussion 2, Snare Drum, Timpani, Trombone, Trumpet 1, Trumpet 2, Tuba, alto Saxophone and more. - Grade 2

SKU: CF.YPS208

Shlof, Mayn Kind. Composed by Larry Clark. Young Band (YPS). Set of Score and Parts. With Standard notation. 8+2+4+4+2+2+5+2+2+4+4+4+6+3+2+3+1+1+2+6+12 pages. Duration 4 minutes, 31 seconds. Carl Fischer Music #YPS208. Published by Carl Fischer Music (CF.YPS208).

ISBN 9781491152287. UPC: 680160909780. Key: D minor.

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.

By Frank Ticheli. Concert band. Suitable for advanced middle school, high school, community and college bands. Level: Grade 3. Conductor score and set of parts. Duration 6:30. Published by Manhattan Beach Music.

Concert Band/Harmonie - Grade 4

SKU: BT.DHP-1094671-010

Composed by Billy Joel. Arranged by Peter Kleine Schaars. Peter's Popular Collection. Pop & Rock. Set (Score & Parts). Composed 2009. De Haske Publications #DHP 1094671-010. Published by De Haske Publications (BT.DHP-1094671-010).

9x12 inches. English-German-French-Dutch.

Billy Joel lässt sich gerne von ganz verschiedenen Musikrichtungen inspirieren - von Beethoven über Ray Charles bis zu den Rolling Stones. Das spiegelt sich auch in der Vielfältigkeit seiner Songs wider, die oft sehr persönlich und anrührend sind. Peter Kleine Schaars‘ Medley enthält vier Hits, die über die ganze Gefühlspalette von fröhlich über nachdenklich bis melancholisch gehen: Just the Way You Are, My Life, Honesty und Uptown Girl.

La musique de Billy Joel, reflète des influences très diverses : de Beethoven au Rolling Stones, en passant par Ray Charles. Cela a contribué au succès des ses nombreuses chansons très personnelles, dont l'émotion et la sensibilité qu'elles suscitent ont touché un large public. Just The Way You Are, My Life, Honesty et >I>Uptown Girl comptent parmi ses tubes les plus mémorables. Peter Kleine Schaars les a réunis dans ce medley de sentiments.

Band Concert Band - Grade 3

SKU: CF.CPS220F

March. Composed by John Pasternak. Concert Band (CPS). Full score. With Standard notation. 20 pages. Carl Fischer Music #CPS220F. Published by Carl Fischer Music (CF.CPS220F).

ISBN 9781491153147. UPC: 680160910649.

An exciting new original march in classic American march form and style.  Composer John Paternak has captured the essence of the great marches of Sousa and Fillmore in a new tuneful and fresh sound traditional march.  The trio melody is essential catchy and the march is worthy of use as a solid warm-up march for festival by advancing level concert bands.
I wrote this piece for my friend Ralph Meyer and the members of the Western Reserve Community Band, who are always there for me when I need a group to read or record one of my compositions. I would also like to thank Larry Clark for helping this march come to life.There are a lot of sudden dynamic changes in this piece. It is crucial that there is dynamic contrast, so the piece can be performed effectively. There are also several instances with contrast in articulation styles. Make sure your group is playing short notes different from the legato passages. At m. 87 during the second time through, I have made the tempo jump to 152. Feel free to take it faster if your group is capable of it.

Band Bass Clarinet, Bass Drum, Bassoon, Bells, Cabasa, Clarinet 1, Clarinet 2, Crash Cymbals, Euphonium, Euphonium T.C., Flute, Flute 2, Horn, Mallet Percussion, Oboe, Percussion 1, Percussion 2, Snare Drum, Suspended Cymbal, Tambourine, Timpani and more. - Grade 2.5

SKU: CF.YPS212

Composed by Larry Clark. Young Band (YPS). Set of Score and Parts. With Standard notation. 16+4+8+8+4+4+10+4+4+8+8+8+12+6+6+2+2+4+10+20+4 pages. Duration 3 minutes, 39 seconds. Carl Fischer Music #YPS212. Published by Carl Fischer Music (CF.YPS212).

ISBN 9781491152317. UPC: 680160909810. Key: C minor.

Taking its title from a poem about grief and loss by Chrissie Pinney, Live On honors the life of band director Linda Mann, to whom the piece is dedicated. The piece begins with a pensive intro before shifting to a whimsical theme that brings about happy thoughts of a life well-lived. After a return to the poignant opening material, the music surges to a triumphant conclusion based on an augmented version of the whimsical theme.
Live On was commissioned by Diplomat Middle School's staff, faculty and students, in Cape Coral, Florida, and is dedicated to the memory of their Director of Bands, Linda Mann. Director of Orchestras, Roland Forti, championed the commissioning of this piece to honor the life of Linda after her untimely passing in February of 2017. Linda Mann’s impact on the field of music education was profound and wide-reaching. She was a beloved member of the staff at Diplomat Middle School, as well as the music community of Cape Coral and the state of Florida. Linda was highly respected throughout the state, serving as recent past-president of the Florida Bandmasters Association.In discussing the type of piece the school wanted to honor Ms. Mann, they indicated the piece should “depict Linda’s personality: dynamic, sassy, yet thoughtful and almost mentor-like.” They wanted a piece that was upbeat, yet still had moments that were thoughtful, portraying the grief that the Diplomat Middle School community has suffered from the sudden loss of such a beloved teacher.After contemplating their thoughts, I did some research to find inspiration for the piece. This led me to poetry about grief and loss. In time, I stumbled upon a short, yet poignant poem that I felt perfectly depicted the sentiment that I wanted the piece to convey.  That poem is entitled Live On by Chrissie Pinney.Live OnNow as I live onWithout youI hope to keepThe pieces of youThat I loved so dearlyYour mannerismsAnd compassionate characterAnd smiles through struggleSo that youMay live on too -Chrissie PinneyI reached out to Ms. Pinney, and she graciously agreed to allow me to quote her powerful poem in these notes. She expressed that she was deeply touched that her work would inspire me to write a piece in honor of Linda Mann.The piece begins with a poignant, pensive opening section. The use of the musical interval of a tritone between the first two openly voiced chords are used to represent the sadness we all feel from this type of loss. When I sat in front of my piano and started to work on this piece, my hands seemed to naturally and immediately play these first two chords, which set the process in motion of composing the piece.After the somber opening, the piece shifts to a whimsical theme that I hope brings about happy thoughts of Linda and her personality. It was also my intent, however, to include some musical dissonance in the theme that still reflected the bittersweet loss at the same time. The piece develops into a secondary theme that is a quasi inversion of the main fast theme. This section is followed by a return of the opening material, with snippets of the fast theme intertwined, before the piece builds to a triumphant, augmented presentation of the main theme in a lush form to complete the work.It is my hope that in some small way, this piece will bring comfort to those affected by the loss of Linda Mann, and that the music will allow her memory to Live On.–Larry ClarkLakeland, FL 2017.

Band Concert Band - Grade 2

SKU: CF.YPS198

Composed by Tyler Arcari. Young Band (YPS). Set of Score and Parts. With Standard notation. 8+2+8+8+2+4+10+4+2+4+4+8+12+6+3+1+1+4+2+16+4 pages. Duration 2 minutes, 14 seconds. Carl Fischer Music #YPS198. Published by Carl Fischer Music (CF.YPS198).

ISBN 9781491152188. UPC: 680160909681. Key: C minor.

All the While was inspired by a very special person in Tyler Arcari's life. Directors will be happy to find many opportunities for emotional and passionate playing with plenty of fun in the middle for young bands.  All the While gives students a number of chances to work on expressive playing during the beginning and ending sections, and offers a light rhythmic middle section for contrast.
Program Notes:All the While is a bit of a personal piece for me. I was inspired to write it by a very special person in my life. It might be a young-band piece but I feel that it has the capacity for great emotion and passionate playing as well as a little fun in the middle. Sometimes it is difficult to tell people how you feel, even if you have known them for a long time. I think sometimes we say in our heads that “I have felt this way for a long time,” and all the while never being able to put it to words.About the work:The piece opens with a flute and alto saxophone duet. This melody trades off at m. 10 with the addition of new voices and harmonies building in intensity all the way to m. 28. I personally like to use extended phrases in this section, though it looks like it would just utilize four-measure phrases. I feel this adds to the momentum building in dynamic intensity. Measure 28 is a subito change beginning with a prominent Timpani solo. The following section should be played as lightly as possible to avoid a lumbering feel. In mm. 68- 70, the agogic accents should not be very heavy, but more pointed in their momentum to m. 70.Measures 70–76 should be taken with metric liberty bringing out all of the moving parts in the low brass. The low brass really adds the foundation of momentum for the rest of the band here. Measure 76 to the end, though a repetition of material from the beginning, should be played as the high point of the piece and familiar conclusion.

Band Concert Band - Grade 2

SKU: CF.YPS200

Composed by Matthew R. Putnam. Young Band (YPS). Set of Score and Parts. With Standard notation. 8+2+4+2+2+5+2+2+4+4+6+3+3+2+1+3+16+4+4+2+2 pages. Duration 2:15. Carl Fischer Music #YPS200. Published by Carl Fischer Music (CF.YPS200).

ISBN 9781491152201. UPC: 680160909704. Key: D minor.

Step right up, ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, step right up! See the exotic, the strange, and the magical at the Cirque de L’étrange, or “Circus of the Strange.” This piece evokes a bygone era when circuses and carnivals provided people from all walks of life a chance to see human and animal oddities. Cirque de L'étrange is an original concert march written in standard march form, but its sound is anything but standard. This piece is playable by younger groups and is a great way to expose students to the march form and style without sounding like your typical march.
Step right up ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, step right up! See the exotic, the strange, and the magical at the Cirque de L’étrange. Welcome to the Cirque de L’étrange, known in English as the “Circus of the Strange.” This piece evokes a time of a bygone era, a time when circuses and carnivals provided people from all walks of life a chance to see human and animal oddities that were sources of both delight and horror. While many of these sideshow attractions were deemed fraudulent, it did not deter the crowds from flocking to be shocked and awed. I have always held a special place in my heart for the showmanship of carnivals, because my grandfather dearly loved them. For much of his life, he worked at fairs and carnivals selling cotton candy and candy apples. A large portion of my days when growing up were spent running around fairgrounds and helping my grandfather with his stand. He imparted in me a love for the cunning, magic, and sheer joy that only carnivals and circuses can bring. In Cirque de L’étrange, I sought to capture the the mirthful, yet uncanny mood of the carnivals that I grew up exploring, thus transporting you to a different time.Cirque de L'étrange is an original concert march written in standard march form, but its sound is anything but standard. This piece is playable by younger groups, as it is a great way to expose students to the march form and style while not sounding like your typical march.Opening in D minor, the piece combines the playful feel of a march and a macabre tango. The second time through the First Strain (mm. 5-23), the upper woodwinds and bells add a second counter melody based in D harmonic minor, which heightens the peculiar nature of the piece. The Second Strain (mm. 24-43) by contrast, is a little more upbeat, thus evoking the magical ebullience of a circus, which is further highlighted by the xylophone part. The Second Strain ends in the key of F major and sets up the transition to the Trio in the key of G minor. The Trio (m. 44) begins with the G harmonic minor melody in the clarinets and a counter melody in the bassoon and tenor saxophone. The rest of the woodwinds and bells join in at m. 60 while the percussion adds a Gypsy-like feel with tambourine and triangle. At m. 76 the full band joins in the macabre parade with the trombones and baritones harmonizing the counter melody. The conclusion of the march has the upper woodwinds, adding a second counter melody complete with trills to bring the march to an exciting and dramatic finish.As the World’s Greatest Showman, P.T. Barnum, a man my grandfather greatly admired, once said “The noblest art is that of making others happy.” It is my hope that through this piece you will experience the thrill, delight, and fright that only carnivals can bring as you visit the Circus of the Strange!

Concert Band/Harmonie - Grade 3

SKU: BT.1793-10-140-MS

Composed by Desmond Child, George Karakoglou, Jon Bon Jovi, Max Martin, and Richie Sambora. Arranged by Wolfgang Wössner. Ovation Series. Pop & Rock. Score Only. Composed 2010. 36 pages. Music Sales #1793-10-140 MS. Published by Music Sales (BT.1793-10-140-MS).

9x12 inches. English-German-French-Dutch.

Wolfgang Wössner has created yet another energetic and exciting medley for concert band, following in the footsteps of his previous successful medley, Bryan Adams - The Best of Me. This time Wössner has moulded four hits by the American rock band Bon Jovi into one sensational work. Combining Runaway, It’s My Life, Livin’ On a Prayer and You Give Love a Bad Name, creates an incredibly fun medley that will rock your next concert!

Na Bryan Adams - The Best of Me en Grönemeyer! doet Wolfgang Wössner het weer: een geweldige medley schrijven in het pop- en rockgenre. Deze keer nam hij vier hits van de Amerikaanse rockband Bon Jovi. De medley begintmet Runaway uit 1983. Daarna volgen de hits It’s My Life en Livin’ on a Prayer uit het jaar 1999. You Give Love a Bad Name uit 1986 rondt deze sterke medley mooi af. Schud die haren los en rocken mar…!

Nach Bryan Adams - The Best of Me und Grönemeyer! hat Wolfgang Wössner ein neues Medley für Blasorchester im Pop-Rock-Genre geschaff en. Diesmal nahm er sich vier Hits der amerikanischen Rockband Bon Jovi vor. Das Medley beginnt mit Runaway von 1983. Dem folgen die Songs It’s My Life aus dem Jahr 1999 sowie Livin’ on a Prayer. You Give Love a Bad Name von 1986 vervollständigt dieses starke Medley, mit dem Sie die Bühne rocken werden!

Après le vif succès remporté par ses précédents medleys pop-rock, dont Grönemeyer!, Wolfgang Wössner récidive avec un nouveau medley solide et puissant qui reprend quatre tubes du groupe de rock américain, Bon Jovi. Ce groupe légendaire, fondé par Jon Bon Jovi, manie avec la même aisance les ballades sereines et les morceaux axés rock mainstream. Bon Jovi Rock Mix débute avec Runaway, le titre avec lequel Jon Bon Jovi lança sa carrière. Les succès It’s My Life, Livin’ on a Prayer et You Give Love a Bad Name complètent ce medley rugissant, qui séduira vos auditeurs.

Dopo il grande successo ottenuto con i precedenti medley - Bryan Adams - The Best of Me e Grönemeyer!, Wolfgang Wössner propone un nuovo medley che riprende quattro successi della band americana Bon Jovi. Questo gruppo leggendario, fondato da Jon Bon Jovi, ammalia il pubblico sia con serene ballate, sia con brani di rock sfrenato. Questo medley include: Runaway (1983), It’s My Life (1999), Livin’ on a Prayer e You Give Love a Bad Name (1986).

Concert band - Grade 4-5

SKU: P2.W0004

Composed by James Grant. Published by Potenza Music (P2.W0004).

Tribute: Those Who Serve, scored for Grade 4/5 band, is dedicated to the bravery, heroism and sacrifice of First Responders. The music is based on an earlier work for orchestra, called Tribute, commissioned by conductor Michael Gagliardo and the Etowah Youth Symphony Orchestra to commemorate the events of September 11, 2001. I composed the original Tribute in the spring of 2002 while in residence at Copland House in Cortlandt Manor, NY, where Aaron Copland lived and worked the last thirty years of his life. With gratitude to Copland House and as my own tribute to Mr. Copland, the orchestral version of Tribute opened and closed with the composer's initials A.C. featured in the strings as major chords on A and C. Mercifully, the current version for band has been transposed up a half-step to the key of B-flat. A central section in D-flat features robust quotes from Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man, a work that is at the spiritual core of Tribute: Those Who Serve.Tribute: Those Who Serve invites us to pause and reflect on the daily acts of valor exhibited by the many First Responders in our local communities--law enforcement officials, firefighters, search and rescue teams, emergency medical technicians and citizen volunteers, to name but a few. My hope is that Tribute: Those Who Serve will inspire community and school bands nationwide to hold events to honor the brave women and men who serve with consummate commitment and determination in our local communities, selflessly standing tall in times of local and national crisis.

Band Bagpipes, Bass Clarinet, Bass Drum, Bassoon, Bells, Clarinet 1, Clarinet 2, Clarinet 3, Crash Cymbals, Double Bass, Euphonium, Euphonium T.C., Flute 1, Flute 2, Horn 1, Horn 2, Mallet Percussion, Mark Tree, Oboe, Percussion 1, Percussion 2 and more. - Grade 3.5

SKU: CF.CPS225

Composed by Larry Clark. Concert Band (CPS). Set of Score and Parts. With Standard notation. 12+12+6+12+24+24+6+4+6+6+6+6+8+8+8+4+4+6+6+6+8+2+1+6+2+4+10+32+4 pages. Duration 6 minutes, 9 seconds. Carl Fischer Music #CPS225. Published by Carl Fischer Music (CF.CPS225).

ISBN 9781491152515. UPC: 680160910014.

Tartan Tapestries is an original piece that sets out to emulate Scottish folk music. Composer Larry Clark has created a concert overture in triple meter to capture the essence of music from Scotland. After a lilting first section,  lush and beautiful moments weave a tapestry of sounds with the lyrical, middle section of the piece. There is an optional part for bagpipes, and an optional ending should you chose to use this instrument as part of the piece. Alert your contest music committee about this strong new piece for advancing groups.
Tartan Tapestries was commissioned by Friends of the Arts for the Saint Andrew's School Band in Boca Raton, Florida. The band program at Saint Andrew’s School is under the direction of Andrea Wolgin. The premiere took place on November 29, 2017.When I was asked by their conductor Ms. Wolgin to write a piece for the Saint Andrew’s School, I asked her what kind of involvement she wanted the students to have in the process. We discussed several options for having the students involved in the process of creating with the type of piece they wanted.  We set up a “Skype” meeting with members of the band to discuss the piece. During this discussion, the consensus of the students was that they wanted a piece depicting the Scottish influence to the school. They also wanted a piece that would challenge all sections of the band and to include bagpipes if possible. I asked that the students be involved in helping to name the piece once it was completed, for which they agreed and were very helpful. Armed with this information, I set out to compose a piece for them, and Tartan Tapestries is the result.The piece begins with a fanfare gesture based upon rhythms and harmonies that appear throughout the piece. I chose the lilting triple feel to the piece, to bring about the Scottish flavor. I wanted the fanfare to be bardic sounding, to depict the strength of the Scottish people and for the piece to have a dynamic opening. The fanfare contains material that alludes to the main theme and with a bit of dissonance and tension that is resolved in the main body of the piece.The main theme is a lilting original melody, but one that I hope with have the essence of Scottish folk songs. The main idea is followed by a more modal and dark sounding secondary theme, first stated in the horns. This material is later used in the development section of the piece. The main theme returns several times, with different and varied orchestrations and harmonic treatments. This is followed by a short transition leading to the more lyrical and slower second section of the piece. A transparent presentation of the lyrical theme, which is based on aspects of the main theme, is presented first by a solo flute. This section is a nod to famous composer Malcom Arnold’s wonderful works for orchestra in its style and orchestration. After a transition or bridge section with a solo euphonium, the piece builds to a dramatic climax of the lyrical theme by the full band. This subsides to a return of the solo flute to end this second section of the piece, followed by a transition back the main theme.The solo bagpipes play a central role in the return of the main theme and take center stage after being heard in the distance earlier in the work. The piece brings back a shortened version of the darker secondary theme, followed by a hint of the fanfare material that builds to one last statement of the main theme by the full band, before leading to a dramatic coda to complete the work.It has been my pleasure to have been given the opportunity to compose this piece for the Saint Andrew’s School Band! I thank Andrea Wolgin for making it happen, and I hope that you enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed bringing the piece to life.–Larry ClarkLakeland, Florida 2017.

Concert band (Piccolo, 1st Flute, 2nd Flute, 1st Oboe, 2nd Oboe*, Eb Clarinet*, 1st Bb Clarinet, 2nd Bb Clarinet, 3rd Bb Clarinet, Eb Alto Clarinet*, Bb Bass Clarinet, 1st Bassoon, 2nd Bassoon*, 1st Eb Alto Saxophone, 2nd Eb Alto Saxophone, Bb Tenor Saxophone, Eb Barit) - grade 5

SKU: CN.R10230

Composed by Geoffrey Brand. Arranged by Geoffrey Brand. Band Music. Score and parts. Duration 3:00. Published by G & M Brand Music Publishers (CN.R10230).

Music of enormous excitement and expectation - marked very animated - with brass blazing a powerful call against a tingling triplet figure in support. In Wagner's own words - awaken the mute lines of this score to bright surrounding life.

In a letter addressed to My dear Liszt, dated May 1852, Richard Wagner writes: It was you who awakened the mute lines of this score to bright surrounding life. He was referring to a performance of his opera Lohengrin which Franz Liszt conducted at the Weirner Court Theatre on August 28, 1850. The letter was sent from Zurich, since Wagner was exiled from Germany at this time. He had completed his romantic opera, Lohengrin, some five years earlier but doubted whether he would ever hear it performed. The action takes place in Antwerp in the first half of the 10th century. Elsa and Lohengrin are to be married and the 3rd Act opens as they proceed in great splendour, accompanied by their respective noblewomen and noblemen, to the cathedral. As a Prelude to the curtain rising Wagner unleashed music of enormous excitement and expectation - marked very animated - with brass blazing a powerful call against a tingling triplet figure in support. In the opera this magnificent Prelude leads directly into the Bridal Scene as Elsa and Lohengrin make their way solemnly to the betrothal ceremony. Wagner achieves this change of mood and atmosphere most skillfully. In arranging the Prelude for concert performance the challenge was to provide an ending which provides a satisfactory climax to Wagner's blaze of instrumental colour, without proceeding to the solemn betrothal music. This was resolved by using the composer's own mighty flourish to end Act I of his opera. Now, the gauntlet is thrown down to all who perform it to - in Wagner's own words - awaken the mute lines of this score to bright surrounding life..