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: MH.1-59913-070-X

ISBN 9781599130705.

Program Notes: Stylistically diverse -- tranquil, spirited pastoral, sensitive, energetic -- exhibiting a remarkable palette, the five movements of SINFONIA IX form a unique symphonic statement. Movement I, Prelude, is about contrasts: A lazy, smooth, motive in brasses alternates with, and then joins, an active and detached motive in woodwinds. The spirited Movement II, Morley's Ghost, is an intricate canonic collage and homage to that venerable theoretician & composer, Thomas Morley. By contrast, movement III, Dialog, speaks in a relaxed, lyrical, and pastoral language as it develops its gently rising and falling motives. Movement IV, Waltz, innocently celebrates the joys of childhood with a lilting melody and rondo form. For the rousing Finale, Movement V begins with a martial call of repeated-notes, heralding a headstrong journey of power and excitement. Like a number of the composer's other works, SINFONIA IX is based on earlier material: A brass sextet, written in 1966 when the composer was nineteen years old, forms the raw material for the first, third and fifth movements, while a later work, Martin's Waltz (a children's piece for flutes and clarinets composed in 1975) is the basis of the fourth movement. The second movement, however, is a fanciful contrapuntal commentary on Thomas Morley's 16th-century canzonet, Fire and Lightning. SINFONIA IX is dedicated to John Raforth, a distinguished band director and music educator at West High School in Madison, Wisconsin. The work was commissioned by his friends and former students, and was completed in 1977. Its first publication some twenty years later is a result of the increasing attention paid by university band directors to the earlier Sinfonias, particularly Sinfonia III (Hymns and Dances); Sinfonia V (Sinfonia Sacra et Profana); and now, Sinfonia IX. Whereas the first two works are wind ensemble compositions that have been championed equally by the concert band, Sinfonia IX is the composer's first college-level Sinfonia written especially for concert band. Ensemble instrumentation: 1 Piccolo, 8 Flute 1-2, 2 Oboe, 1 Eb Clarinet, 4 Bb Clarinet 1, 4 Bb Clarinet 2, 4 Bb Clarinet 3, 3 Bb Bass Clarinet, 2 Bassoon, 4 Eb Alto Saxophone, 2 Bb Tenor Saxophone, 1 Eb Baritone Saxophone, 3 Bb Trumpet 1, 3 Bb Trumpet 2, 3 Bb Trumpet 3, 2 F Horn 1-2, 2 F Horn 3-4, 3 Trombone 1, 3 Trombone 2, 3 Baritone B.C., 2 Baritone T.C., 4 Tuba, 3 String Bass, 2 Timpani, 5 Percussion.

SKU: BT.AMP-124-140

English-German-French-Dutch.

Klezmer music originated in the ‘shtetl’ (villages) and the ghettos of Eastern Europe, where itinerant Jewish troubadours, known as ‘klezmorim’, had performed at celebrations, particularly weddings, since the early Middle Ages. Since the 16th century, lyrics had been added to klezmer music, due to the ‘badkhn’ (the master of ceremony at weddings), to the ‘Purimshpil’ (the play of Esther at Purim) and to traditions of the Yiddish theatre, but the term gradually became synonymous with instrumental music, particularly featuring the violin and clarinet. In recent years it has again become very popular and in A Klezmer Karnival Philip Sparke has used three contrasting traditionaltunes to form a suite that will bring a true karnival atmosphere to any concert.

De wortels van de klezmerstijl liggen in wereldlijke melodieën, populaire dansen, het joodse ‘hazanut’ (cantorijmuziek) en de ‘nigunim’, de melodieën die worden gereciteerd door de ‘hasidim’ (orthodoxe joden). De term werd in de loopder tijden synoniem aan instrumentale muziek, waarin met name de viool en klarinet de hoofdrol spelen. Voor A Klezmer Karnival zijn drie traditionele melodieën gebruikt: Choson kale mazel tov, een bruiloftsdans,Freylekh, een joodse kringdans, en Sherele, een Duitse herdersdans.

Philip Sparke verarbeitete in seinem Werk drei unterschiedliche traditionelle Klezmermelodien: einen Hochzeitstanz mit Glückwünschen für Braut und Bräutigam, einen Rundtanz und einen so genannten Scherentanz. Daraus entstand A Klezmer Karnival, das die dem Klezmer eigene Mischung aus Fröhlichkeit und Melancholie ausgezeichnet wiedergibt. Ein ebenso abwechslungsreiches wie stimmungsvolles Konzertwerk, mit dem Ihr Blasorchester überzeugen wird!

Jouée depuis le Moyen ge par des musiciens juifs itinérants (klezmorim), la musique klezmer est une musique joyeuse colportée de fête en mariage, qui trouve ses origines dans les “shtetl” (villages) et les ghettos d’Europe de l’Est. A Klezmer Karnival (“Festival klezmer”) de Philip Sparke rassemble trois airs traditionnels : Choson Kale Mazel Tov - une danse nuptiale, Freylekh - une danse juive en cercle et Sherele - littéralement « petits ciseaux » - une danse de bergers, d’origine allemande.

Suonata a partire dal Medioevo da giovani musicisti ebrei (klezmorim), la musica klezmer è una musica gioiosa che ha origine nei villaggi (“shtetl”) e nei ghetti dell’Europa dell’est. A Klezmer Karnival di Philip Sparke raccoglie tre arie tradizionali: Choson Kale Mazel Tov, una danza nuziale, Freylekh, una tipica danza ebraica in cerchio e Sherele (letteralmente piccole forbici), una danza di pastori di origine tedesca.

SKU: AP.44158S

UPC: 038081505503. English. French Carol.

Celebrate Noel with this carol taken from a 16th century courtly dance tune. The variations in this new setting will lift your spirits as they pass from a joyous opening, through a brief moment of reflection, and on to a jubilant ending. This little bit of effervescence is a great addition to any part of your Christmas program. (2:25).

SKU: HL.4006619

UPC: 840126923285. 9.0x12.0x0.109 inches.

Inspired by the legend of a mythical ancient kingdom (in present day South Carolina), The Land Called Chicora is a programmatic work telling of the 16th century Spanish and French explorers in search of this treasured civilization. With descriptive scenes ranging from the majestic sailing ships along the coast, to the foreboding forests of the interior, to the impending treachery of the natives' threatened way of life, this impressive work is both magical and rewarding.

SKU: GI.G-M523

ISBN 9781579992378. English.

This major band method by James O. Froseth has it all: Artist performers set musical standards in sound with more than 80 great performances on CD for every instrument, and one CD lasts for the entire book! Performers include: Michael Henoch (Chicago Symphony Orchestra), Randall Hawes, Jeffrey Zook, Sharon Sparrow, Kevin Good (Detroit Symphony Orchestra), Albert Blaser (Cleveland State University), Brian Bowman (Duquesne University), Timothy McAllister (Crane School of Music, SUNY at Potsdam), Steve Houghton (LA percussion recording artist and clinician), Donald Sinta, Richard Beene, Bryan Kennedy, Debra Chodacki, Fritz Kaenzig (University of Michigan), Kristin Beene (Toledo Symphony Orchestra), and Jean Moorehead Libs (Plymouth Symphony Orchestra). Professional studio backgrounds capture the rich diversity of American music culture with a repertoire of American, Latin American, African, European, and Far Eastern styles. Music of other times includes 12th-century conductus, 15th-century Dance of the Bouffons, 16th-century French branle, 18th- and 19th-century folk songs and dances, 1940s and '50s jazz, blues, and rock-and-roll. The repertoire and recorded contexts are motivating, informative, and entirely musical. Every song includes text, providing information about phrasing, rhythm, style, affect, emotion, history, and culture. A unique Rhythmic Pattern Dictionary allows students to look it up and listen up. An individualized format allows students to progress at different rates with a theme and variation format. Ear training and improvisation are integral parts of the lesson format. A 550+ page Teacher's Resource edition and musical score provides options galore, including a double CD with listen and play exercises for group instruction, supplementary exercises for technical development, and resource material for improvisation and composition. All the resources needed for teaching to the National Standards for Music are provided (coordinates with rhythm flashcards). Book 2 features innovative, but optional use of world percussion instruments, as developed by percussion educator Steve Houghton. Click here to download the audio recordings for the Book 2 Teacher's Edition.

SKU: FJ.B1544S

English.

This magnificent three-movement work pays homage to the House of Tudor, a European royal house that ruled England and Ireland in the 16th century. A blithely woodwind anthem and a rollicking dance heralds in Hampton Court, a principal residence of King Henry VIII. Good Queen Bess, the regal second movement, depicts the court of Queen Elizabeth I. The intrepid Hunting at Chobham portrays an aggressive game of chase in the vast 500 acre hunting park held by the Tudors for nearly 70 years. Fantastic writing!

SKU: AP.44209S

UPC: 038081506296. English. Traditional.

Gaudete dates back to the 16th century, and was sung as a Christmas Carol throughout the monasteries of Europe. Meaning rejoice in Latin, this piece captures the intense passion of praise coupled with moments of calm reverence. (3:25).

SKU: AP.48163S

ISBN 9781470660918. UPC: 038081555881. English. Traditional English Folk Song.

This march setting of the 16th-century traditional English folk song Greensleeves is an outstanding fusion piece for beginners. With teaching opportunities for contrasting articulations and phrasing, this is a wonderful selection to march into the holiday season. (2:15) This title available in MakeMusic Cloud.

SKU: BT.DHP-1074365-140

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

Hector Berlioz was known for his innovative and creative musical gestures. He composed the opera Benvenuto Cellini in 1838, based on the fascinating life of a 16th century Italian goldsmith of the same name. Unfortunately the work as a whole never gained much popularity however its colourful and exciting overture has, on the other hand, become a firm favourite. Tohru Takahashi has created a stunning concert band arrangement of this well-known overture.

Hector Berlioz, der stets innovative Ideen meisterhaft in seinen Werken umzusetzen verstand, schrieb die Oper Benvenuto Cellini 1838 basierend auf dem faszinierenden Leben des gleichnamigen italienischen Goldschmieds aus dem 16. Jahrhundert. Großer Erfolg war dem Werk jedoch nie beschieden - mit Ausnahme der farbigen und lebhaften Ouvertüre, die Tohru Takahashi geschickt für Blasorchester umsetzte.

L’opera Benvenuto Cellini (1838) di Hector Berlioz si ispira alla vita avventurosa del celebre orafo e scultore Benvenuto Cellini nell’Italia del XVI secolo. A causa della complessit della scrittura e di un libretto che proponeva vari generi fuori dalle usanze del tempo, l’opera conobbe un successo effi mero e finii nell’oblio. Grazie alla sua straordinaria vitalit , sopravvisse unicamente l’ouverture, che si rivela anche in questa brillante trascrizione per banda firmata Tohru Takahashi.