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: MH.1-59913-082-3

ISBN 9781599130828.

Fantasia Nova is a suite comprising two concert marches and a slow, middle movement that derives its themes from both marches. Ragtime (composed in early September, 1978) is a new from old sort of piece. Although its tunefulness and harmonies have an old-fashioned character, its structure, development, and orchestration are unusual for a march. In the chorale section (measures 111 - 148) the band director must be very careful in balancing, for each of the elements must come through. More important is that the audience be brought up by this section -- filled with a joyous exaltation; great attention must be paid to sonority and the band must play earnestly. Ragtime stands on its own and may be performed separately. Dreams (composed in late September, 1978) is the traditional march of the two. It is very closely modeled (in structure only) to Sousa's Stars and Stripes Forever. It even includes a tricky piccolo solo, although the accompaniment has a chorale texture, almost like a school alma mater. This march has a patriotic, inspirational sound, because it was composed for the town of Irondequoit, New York -- for a Town March contest held by the town's community concert band. It did not, so far as I know, become the town's march; one can hear the name, Irondequoit, throughout the Trio, for every turn of the melody (in fact, each group of four notes) fits the accent pattern (Ih-RON-dih-kwoit) of the town's name. Parade stands on its own as a complete work and may be performed separately. Ensemble instrumentation: 1 Piccolo, 6 Flutes, 2 1st & 2nd Oboes, 1 English Horn, 1 Eb Clarinet, 3 1st Bb Clarinet, 3 2nd Bb Clarinet, 3 3rd Bb Clarinet, 1 Eb Alto Clarinet, 2 Bb Bass Clarinet, 1 Eb Contrabass Clarinet (optional), 2 1st & 2nd Bassoons, 1 Contrabassoon (optional), 1 1st Eb Alto Saxophone, 1 2nd Eb Alto Saxophone, 1 Bb Tenor Saxophone, 1 Eb Baritone Saxophone, 3 1st Bb Cornets, 3 2nd Bb Cornets, 3 3rd Bb Cornets, 1 1st Horn in F, 1 2nd Horn in F, 2 3rd and 4th Horns in F, 2 1st Trombones, 2 2nd Trombones, 2 3rd Trombones, 1 Euphonium (Treble Clef), 2 Euphonium (Bass Clef), 4 Tuba, 1 String Bass, 1 Timpani (Triangle), 5 Percussion.

SKU: MH.1-59913-020-3

ISBN 9781599130200.

Program Notes: Festival in Russia is a transcription for concert band of Anatoli Liadov's dazzling orchestral work, Polonaise (Op. 49). Written at the turn of the century, its energetic dance rhythms and melodic expressiveness will bring a delightful Old World charm to today's audiences. Liadov (1855-1914) was a student of Rimsky-Korsakov at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, and succeeded him as the composition teacher. (One of Liadov's most notable students at the Conservatory was Sergei Prokofiev.) At the time the Polonaise was written (1899), Liadov was at the height of his profession and one of his era's most respected and widely-known composers. The first performance of this transcription for concert band was given by the West Virginia University Wind Symphony at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on February 24, 1988, Don Wilcox conducting. Ensemble instrumentation: 1 Piccolo, 4 Flute I, 4 Flute II, 1 Oboe I, 1 Oboe II, 1 English Horn, 1 Bassoon I, 1 Bassoon II, 1 Eb Clarinet, 4 Bb Clarinet I, 4 Bb Clarinet II, 4 Bb Clarinet III, 1 Eb Alto Clarinet, 1 Eb ContrabassClarinet, 3 Bb Bass Clarinet & Bb Contrabass Clarinet, 3 Eb Alto Saxophone I, 3 Eb Alto Saxophone II, 2 Bb Tenor Saxophone, 2 Eb Baritone Saxophone, 3 Bb Cornet I, 3 Bb Cornet II, 3 Bb Cornet III, 2 Bb Trumpet I, 2 Bb Trumpet II, 2 F Horn I & III, 2 F Horn II & IV, 2 Trombone I, 2 Trombone II, 2 Bass Trombone, 3 Euphonium, 2 Euphonium T.C., 4 Tuba, 2 Timpani, 2 Bells & Vibraphone, 3 Chimes, Triangle & Cymbals, 2 Xylophone & Marimba, 2 Snare Drum & Bass Drum.

SKU: MH.1-59913-078-5

ISBN 9781599130781.

Allegro Brillante is the first movement of Dragonland for band. The first performance (under the original title, A Short Symphony) was given by the L.E. Dieruff High School Concert Band, conducted by Raymond S. Becker, Jr., on April 21, 1978. The work was subsequently revised, and first performed in its new version by the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Symphony Band, conducted by Donald S. George, on November 23rd, 1980. Allegro Brillante is the first movement of four. The music is almost profligate in its tunefulness, quick to change tack and tempo, and will benefit from an interpretation of headstrong abandon. Ensemble instrumentation: 1 Piccolo, 7 Flute I-II, 2 Oboe I-II, 2 Bassoon I-II, 1 Eb Clarinet, 4 Bb Clarinet I, 4 Bb Clarinet II, 4 Bb Clarinet III, 2 Eb Alto Clarinet, 2 Eb Bass Clarinet, 2 Eb Contra Alto Clarinet, 2 Eb Alto Saxophone I, 2 Eb Alto Saxophone II, 2 Bb Tenor Saxophone, 1 Eb Baritone Saxophone, 2 Bb Cornet I, 4 Bb Cornet II-III, 2 Bb Trumpet I-II, 2 F Horn I-II, 2 F Horn III-IV, 2 Trombone I, 4 Trombone II-III, 3 Euphonium B.C., 2 Euphonium T.C., 6 Tuba, 2 String Bass, 1 Timpani, 1 Percussion I, 2 Percussion II, 2 Percussion III, 1 Percussion IV, 2 Percussion V.

SKU: MH.1-59913-079-3

ISBN 9781599130798.

Allegro Brillante is the first movement of Dragonland for band. The first performance (under the original title, A Short Symphony) was given by the L.E. Dieruff High School Concert Band, conducted by Raymond S. Becker, Jr., on April 21, 1978. The work was subsequently revised, and first performed in its new version by the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Symphony Band, conducted by Donald S. George, on November 23rd, 1980. Allegro Brillante is the first movement of four. The music is almost profligate in its tunefulness, quick to change tack and tempo, and will benefit from an interpretation of headstrong abandon. Ensemble instrumentation: 1 Piccolo, 7 Flute I-II, 2 Oboe I-II, 2 Bassoon I-II, 1 Eb Clarinet, 4 Bb Clarinet I, 4 Bb Clarinet II, 4 Bb Clarinet III, 2 Eb Alto Clarinet, 2 Eb Bass Clarinet, 2 Eb Contra Alto Clarinet, 2 Eb Alto Saxophone I, 2 Eb Alto Saxophone II, 2 Bb Tenor Saxophone, 1 Eb Baritone Saxophone, 2 Bb Cornet I, 4 Bb Cornet II-III, 2 Bb Trumpet I-II, 2 F Horn I-II, 2 F Horn III-IV, 2 Trombone I, 4 Trombone II-III, 3 Euphonium B.C., 2 Euphonium T.C., 6 Tuba, 2 String Bass, 1 Timpani, 1 Percussion I, 2 Percussion II, 2 Percussion III, 1 Percussion IV, 2 Percussion V.

SKU: MH.1-59913-064-5

ISBN 9781599130644.

I wrote Galloping Ghosts (A Ragtime March) to conclude a concert of my chamber music in New York City on October 28, 1986. It is the final part of a work called Rags for Divers Players. This work was written to show the variety possible within the standard rag form. I used all the players available for the finale -- two violins, viola, cello, bass, flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon, and piano. Since this is a rather unusual instrumental combination and not easy to reassemble, I decided to rescore the work for concert band. Galloping Ghosts is written in a standard march form but incorporates many of the syncopations found in ragtime. The uniquely American music called ragtime traces its history to African rhythms brought over by slaves. Over the years this music became welded to European musical forms such as the quadrille and the march. Drums and banjos and the minstrel tradition lent a special flavor, and from all these elements ragtime slowly evolved within the largely unknown black subculture of the late 19th century. In the late 1890's it emerged as a fully developed form in the classic piano solos of Scott Joplin (1869-1917). Joplin's 1899 hit, Maple Leaf Rag, was an overnight sensation and brought ragtime worldwide fame. Ensemble instrumentation: 1 Piccolo, 8 Flute 1 and 2, 2 Oboe, 1 Eb Clarinet, 4 Bb Clarinet 1, 4 Bb Clarinet 2, 4 Bb Clarinet 3, 2 Eb Alto Clarinet, 3 Bb Bass and Bb Contrabass Clarinet, 2 Bassoon 1 and 2, 2 Eb Alto Saxophone 1, 2 Eb Alto Saxophone 2, 2 Bb Tenor Saxophone, 1 Eb Baritone Saxophone, 3 Bb Cornet 1, 3 Bb Cornet 2, 3 Bb Cornet 3, 2 Horn 1 and 2 in F, 2 Horn 3 and 4 in F, 4 Trombone 1 and 2, 4 Bass Trombone, 2 Baritone (B.C.), 2 Baritone (T.C.), 4 Tuba, 1 String Bass, 1 Timpani, 1 Xylophone, 3 Percussion 1, 3 Percussion 2.

SKU: MH.186055-SCORE

Performance on audio sample by the Ithaca College Concert Band, Dr. Mark Fonder, conducting.

SKU: MH.0-931329-76-0

ISBN 9780931329760.

THE STARS ASLEEP, THE BREAK OF DAY is my most instrumentally colorful Grade 1 work and I believe in this area it breaks new ground. Furthermore, the musical content greatly exceeds Grade 1 expectations. Beginning band students have something to study here that presents opportunity for real musical development. Band directors will notice immediately that the scoring does not look like Grade 1 music. The music actually sounds like a Grade 3 work but it is not. The ranges and technical demands are truly only Grade 1, but the variety in the instrumentation is ample. Numerous cues and cross-cues allow less secure bands to rehearse or perform the work. The flexibility of tempo in the first movement presents unique challenges in performance and teaching. The sparkling and dancelike second movement is cinematic in its instrumental colors and pacing, and will be fun to perform. Instrumental sections that are used to being buried in the mix will discover that their roles in band music can be significant. Ensemble instrumentation: 6 Flute 1, 6 Flute 2, 2 Oboe, 2 Bassoon, 6 Bb Clarinet 1, 6 Bb Clarinet 2, 3 Bb Bass Clarinet, 4 Eb Alto Saxophone 1, 4 Eb Alto Saxophone 2, 2 Bb Tenor Saxophone, 2 Eb Baritone Saxophone, 6 Bb Trumpet 1, 6 Bb Trumpet 2, 4 F Horn, 4 Trombone 1, 4 Trombone 2, 4 Euphonium, 2 Euphonium (T.C.), 6 Tuba, 2 Timpani, 2 Percussion 1, 4 Percussion 2, 3 Percussion 3.