SKU: CY.CC2602

These are fifteen short, but intense works by Leos Janacek. This music is indeed a great gift to the Euphonium solo literature by Mr. Sauer.

These pieces can be performed by intermediate to advanced performers and are about 9 minutes total in length.

Below are a few notes from the arrangement by Ralph Sauer.

Originally for solo piano, the Fifteen Moravian Folksongs are remarkable for their musicality as well as their brevity - the only notated, repeated passage in the entire work is in Number 5. Because Janacek included the text in his piano score (with no indication that it should be sung), and the fact that there are, in many cases, indications that the text is only a first verse, I have included some additional repeats.

The mp3 sound sample is from a recital at the 2012 Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara. Performance by Ralph Sauer, trombone and Natasha Kislenko, piano.

SKU: CY.CC2769

As the title suggests the work dying and dancing for Euphonium solo and Piano accompaniment is in two parts, which are played without a pause between the two.

The first part, an adagio, is not necessarily meant to be evocative of the actual act of passing away, but more perhaps of the contemplation and reflection upon one's life as that time approaches, and particularly of sorrow over regret and disappointment. The unsettled mood of the music reflects this bitterness, and stands in contrast to the expansive peace of the grave, heard at the beginning and end of the adagio.

Dance, with ironic wit, the second part, is the other side of the same coin; perhaps humor of the gallows describes its spirit. At once fatalist and mocking, it brings to mind the words of the ancient teacher Koheleth, The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

I was pleased to compose dying and dancing in 2013 for Mark Kellogg, a superb Euphonium artist and my former trombone iProfessor at the Eastman School of Music.

SKU: CY.CC2563

The Six Romances, Op. 76 for Euphonium and Piano were originally composed for solo Piano, each one being dedicated to a different gentleman.

The six movements are titled:

1. Souvenance

2. elevation

3. Idylle

4. eglogue

5. Meditation

6. Chanson Bretonne

The length of the entire six movement suite is about 16.5 minutes and playable by advanced performers.

The sound samples are excerpts from a masterclass at the 2012 Music Academy of the West with Steven Warren, Trombonist and Miles Fellenberg, Piano performing movements 1-3 and Trombonist Kelton Koch, Trombonist and Yu Ra Kim, Piano performing movements 4-6.

SKU: CY.CC2604

Faure is well known for his lyricism and haunting harmonies. In a way, he was the father of French Impressionist music.

The Serenade, Opus 98 was originally written for the great 20th century Cellist, Pablo Casals.

Mr. Ralph Sauer has kept the arrangement in the same key as the Cello. The work is playable by advanced performers.

This arrangement is another example of Mr. Sauer's excellent feel for the subtleties of the composer's style.

SKU: FL.FX071528

As a fan of bossa-novas from Antonio Carlos Jobim (with complex and moving harmonies), I have created my samba jazz in order to motivate students to work on typical rhythms of this musical style - Alain LOPEZ.