SKU: HL.14023658

ISBN 9780711943711. 9.0x12.0x0.238 inches.

And Do They Do was commissioned by Siobhan Davies and the London Contemporary Dance Theatre. It was composed during the summer of 1986 and first performed at Sadler's Wells Theatre on 25 November in that year. It consists of four linked 'songs' of which the third is based on Schumann's 'Nachtlied' Opus 96, No. 1.

SKU: AP.48086

UPC: 038081554372. English.

Not to be confused with the nautical term Ahoy!, the phrase All hands hoay! actually means all hands on deck for some serious work! In other words, string players, it's time to get those fingers moving with this simple, rugged, and modal seafaring melody. Written in the often-inaccessible key of F-sharp natural minor, this fun musical pirate's tale will have your students' little fingers stretching nonstop. The melody is evenly passed around, with a middle section featuring your violas and a jaunty contrapuntal ending. Younger orchestras will have a blast with this exciting original, All Hands Hoay! by Anthony Granata, as they get right down to work! (1:40) This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.

SKU: PR.416415760

UPC: 680160636532. 9 x 12 inches.

The 1712 Overture stands out in P.D.Q. Bach's oeuvre for two reasons, among others: it is by far the most programmatic instrumental piece among those by the minimeister of Wein-am-Rhein so far unearthed, and 2) its discovery has led to a revelation about the composer's father, Johann Sebastian Bach, that has exploded like a bombshell on the usually serene musicological landscape. The overture is based on an anecdote told to P.D.Q. Bach by a cousin, Peter Ulrich. Since P.U. Bach lived in Dudeldorf, only a few miles down the road from Wein-am-Rhein, he was P.D.Q.'s closest relative, and he was, in fact, one of the few members of the family who was on speaking terms with P.D.Q. The story, related to P.D.Q. (fortunately for us posterity types) in a letter, may be summarized thus: The town of Dudeldorf was founded by two brothers, Rudi and Dieter Dudel, early in the 18th century. Rudi remained mayor of the newborn burg for the rest of his long life, but Dieter had a dream of starting a musicians' colony, an entire city devoted to music, which dream, he finally decided, could be realized only in the New World. In 1712, he and several other bagpipers sailed to Boston, never to return to Germany. (Henceforth, Rudi became known as der deutscher Dudel and Dieter as the Yankee Dudel). Unfortunately, the head of the Boston Musicians' Guild had gotten wind of Dudel's plans, and Wilhelm Wiesel (pron. VEE-zle), known none too affectionately around town as Wiesel the Weasel, was not about to share what few gigs there were in colonial America with more foreigners and outside agitators. He and his cronies were on hand to meet Dudel's boat when it pulled into Boston Harbor; they intended to prevent the newcomers' disembarkation, but Dudel and his companions managed to escape to the other side of the bay in a dinghy, landing with just enough time to rent a carriage and horses before hearing the sound of The Weasel and his men, who had had to come around the long way. The Germans headed West, with the Bostonians in furious pursuit. soon the city had been left far behind, and by midnight so had the pursuers; Dieter Dudel decided that it was safe for him and his men to stop and sleep until daybreak. When they awoke, they found that they were in a beautiful landscape of low, forested mountains and pleasant fields, warmed by the brilliant morning sun and serenaded by an entrancing variety of birds. Here, Dudel thought, her is where I will build my colony. The immigrants continued down the road at a leisurely pace until they came upon a little church, all by itself in the countryside, from which there suddenly emanated the sounds of a pipe organ. At this point, the temptation to quote from P.U. Bach's letter to P.D.Q. cannot be resisted: They went inside and, after listening to the glorious music for a while, introduced themselves to the organist. And who do you think it was? Are you ready for this -- it was your old man! Hey, no kidding -- you know, I'm sure, that your father was the guy to get when it came to testing new organs, and whoever had that one in Massachusetts built offered old Sebastian a tidy sum to go over there and check it out. The unexpected meeting with J.S. Bach and his sponsors was interrupted by the sound of horse hooves, as the dreaded Wiesel and his men thundered on to the scene. They had been riding all night, however, and they were no spring chickens to start with, and as soon as they reached the church they all dropped, exhausted, to the ground. The elated Germans rang the church bells and offered to buy everyone a beer at the nearest tavern. There they were taught, and joined in singing, what might be called the national anthem of the New World. The melody of this pre-revolutionary patriotic song is still remembered (P.D.Q. Bach quotes it, in the bass instruments, near the end of the overture), but is words are now all but forgotten: Freedom, of thee we sing, Freedom e'er is our goal; Death to the English King, Long live Rock and Ross. The striking paucity of biographical references to Johann Sebastian Bah during the year 1712 can now be explained: he was abroad for a significant part of that year, testing organs in the British Colonies. That this revelation has not been accepted as fact by the musicological establishment is no surprise, since it means that a lot of books would have to be rewritten. The members of that establishment haven't even accepted the existence of P.D.Q. Bach, one of whose major works the 1712 Overture certainly is. It is also a work that shows Tchaikowsky up as the shameless plagiarizer that some of us have always known he was. The discovery of this awesome opus was made possible by a Boston Pops Centennial Research Commission; the first modern performance took place at the opening concert of the 100th anniversary season of that orchestra, under the exciting but authentic direction of John Williams.

SKU: AP.42067

UPC: 038081484136. English.

Written to recognize the indigenous peoples in this nation, the haunting melody captures the many trials they have encountered. The heartbeat is reminiscent of the American Indian drum, and the entire piece incorporates other elements many traditional tribal songs. Every section has a chance to shine. (3:10) This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.

SKU: PR.11641867S

UPC: 680160683208.

Contextures: Riots -Decade '60 was commissioned by Zubin Mehta and the Southern California Symphony Association after the successful premiere of the Concerto for Four Percussion Soloists and Orchestra. It was written during the spring and summer months of 1967. Riots stemming from resentment against the racial situation in the United States and the war in Vietnam were occurring throughout the country and inevitably invaded the composer's creative subconscious. Contextures, as the title implies, was intended to exploit various and varying textures. As the work progressed the correspondence between the fabric of music and the fabric of society became apparent and the allegory grew in significance. So I found myself translating social aspects into musical techniques. Social stratification became a polymetric situation where disparate groups function together. The conflict between the forces of expansion and the forces of containment is expressed through and opposition of tonal fluidity vs. rigidity. This is epitomized in the fourth movement, where the brass is divided into two groups - a muted group, encircled by the unmuted one, which does its utmost to keep the first group within a restricted pitch area. The playful jazzy bits (one between the first and second movements and one at the end of the piece) are simply saying that somehow in this age of turmoil and anxiety ways of having fun are found even though that fun may seem inappropriate. The piece is in five movements, with an interlude between the first and second movements. It is scored for a large orchestra, supplemented by six groups of percussion, including newly created roto-toms (small tunable drums) and some original devices, such as muted gongs and muted vibraphone. There is also an offstage jazz quartet: bass, drums, soprano saxophone and trumpet. The first movement begins with a solo by the first clarinetist which is interrupted by intermittent heckling from his colleagues leading to a configuration of large disparate elements. The interlude of solo violin and snare-drum follows without pause. The second movement, Prestissimo, is a display piece of virtuosity for the entire orchestra. The third movement marks a period of repose and reflection and calls for some expressive solos, particularly by the horn and alto saxophone. The fourth movement opens with a rather lengthy oboe solo, which is threatened by large blocks of sound from the orchestra, against an underlying current of agitated energy in the piano and percussion. This leads to a section in which large orchestral forces oppose one another, ultimately bringing the work to a climax, if not to a denouement. Various thematic elements are strewn all over the orchestra, resulting in the formation of a general haze of sound. A transition leads to the fifth movement without pause. The musical haze is pierced gently by the offstage jazz group as if they were attempting to ignore and even dispel the gloom, but a legato bell sound enters and hovers over both the jazz group and the orchestra, the latter making statements of disquieting finality. Two films were conceived to accompany portions of Contextures. The first done by Herbert Kosowar, was a chemography film (painting directly into the film using dyes and various implements) with fast clips of riot photographs. The second was a film collage made by photographically abstracting details from paintings of Reginald Pollack. The purpose was to invoke a non-specific response - as in music - but at the same time to define the subject matter of the piece. The films were constructed to correspond with certain developments in the piece and in no way affect the independence and musical flow of the piece, having been made after the piece was completed. Contextures: Riots - Decade '60 is dedicated to Mehta, the Southern California Symphony Association and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. The news of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King came the afternoon of the premiere, April 4, 1968. That evening's performances, and also the succeeding ones, were dedicated to him and a special dedication to Dr. King has been inserted into he score. All the music that follows the jazz group - beginning with the legato bell sound playing the first 2 notes to We shall overcome constitutes a new ending to commemorate Dr. King's death.

SKU: HL.49004865

ISBN 9781423413134. UPC: 073999276947. 6.0x9.0x0.366 inches.

Diction lessons on each aria in the series recorded by top language coaches from the Metropolitan Opera and the Juilliard School plus International Phonetic Alphabet and word for word translations



With these book/CDpackages that match the standard aria collections edited by Robert L. Larsen, any singer anywhere has access to the best diction coaching available at a very affordable price. Each aria is recorded twice. In the first version thecoach recites the text as an actor would speak it, showing flow of the language and the mood. The second version is a slow, deliberate lesson, allowing time for the student to repeat each line. These experienced language coachesadapt the “R” in German and French in the slow versions for singers. They also are very sensitive to liaisons between word sounds in the musical settings. The book includes International Phonetic Alphabet for each ariaand word for word translations.



The native speaking professional diction coaches from the Metropolitan Opera and the Juilliard School are: Corradina Caporello for Italian, Pierre Vallet for French, Irene Spiegelmanfor German, Kathryn LaBouff for English, Yveta Synek Graff for Czech, and Gina Levinson for Russian. Companion to 50483986 Coloratura Arias for Soprano.

Diction lessons on each aria in the series recorded by top language coaches from the Metropolitan Opera and the Juilliard School plus International Phonetic Alphabet and word for word translations



With these book/CDpackages that match the standard aria collections edited by Robert L. Larsen, any singer anywhere has access to the best diction coaching available at a very affordable price. Each aria is recorded twice. In the first version thecoach recites the text as an actor would speak it, showing flow of the language and the mood. The second version is a slow, deliberate lesson, allowing time for the student to repeat each line. These experienced language coachesadapt the “R” in German and French in the slow versions for singers. They also are very sensitive to liaisons between word sounds in the musical settings. The book includes International Phonetic Alphabet for each ariaand word for word translations.



The native speaking professional diction coaches from the Metropolitan Opera and the Juilliard School are: Corradina Caporello for Italian, Pierre Vallet for French, Irene Spiegelmanfor German, Kathryn LaBouff for English, Yveta Synek Graff for Czech, and Gina Levinson for Russian. Companion to 50483986 Coloratura Arias for Soprano.

Diction lessons on each aria in the series recorded by top language coaches from the Metropolitan Opera and the Juilliard School plus International Phonetic Alphabet and word for word translations



With these book/CDpackages that match the standard aria collections edited by Robert L. Larsen, any singer anywhere has access to the best diction coaching available at a very affordable price. Each aria is recorded twice. In the first version thecoach recites the text as an actor would speak it, showing flow of the language and the mood. The second version is a slow, deliberate lesson, allowing time for the student to repeat each line. These experienced language coachesadapt the “R” in German and French in the slow versions for singers. They also are very sensitive to liaisons between word sounds in the musical settings. The book includes International Phonetic Alphabet for each ariaand word for word translations.



The native speaking professional diction coaches from the Metropolitan Opera and the Juilliard School are: Corradina Caporello for Italian, Pierre Vallet for French, Irene Spiegelmanfor German, Kathryn LaBouff for English, Yveta Synek Graff for Czech, and Gina Levinson for Russian. Companion to 50483986 Coloratura Arias for Soprano.

Diction lessons on each aria in the series recorded by top language coaches from the Metropolitan Opera and the Juilliard School plus International Phonetic Alphabet and word for word translations



With these book/CDpackages that match the standard aria collections edited by Robert L. Larsen, any singer anywhere has access to the best diction coaching available at a very affordable price. Each aria is recorded twice. In the first version thecoach recites the text as an actor would speak it, showing flow of the language and the mood. The second version is a slow, deliberate lesson, allowing time for the student to repeat each line. These experienced language coachesadapt the “R” in German and French in the slow versions for singers. They also are very sensitive to liaisons between word sounds in the musical settings. The book includes International Phonetic Alphabet for each ariaand word for word translations.



The native speaking professional diction coaches from the Metropolitan Opera and the Juilliard School are: Corradina Caporello for Italian, Pierre Vallet for French, Irene Spiegelmanfor German, Kathryn LaBouff for English, Yveta Synek Graff for Czech, and Gina Levinson for Russian. Companion to 50483986 Coloratura Arias for Soprano.

Diction lessons on each aria in the series recorded by top language coaches from the Metropolitan Opera and the Juilliard School plus International Phonetic Alphabet and word for word translations



With these book/CDpackages that match the standard aria collections edited by Robert L. Larsen, any singer anywhere has access to the best diction coaching available at a very affordable price. Each aria is recorded twice. In the first version thecoach recites the text as an actor would speak it, showing flow of the language and the mood. The second version is a slow, deliberate lesson, allowing time for the student to repeat each line. These experienced language coachesadapt the “R” in German and French in the slow versions for singers. They also are very sensitive to liaisons between word sounds in the musical settings. The book includes International Phonetic Alphabet for each ariaand word for word translations.



The native speaking professional diction coaches from the Metropolitan Opera and the Juilliard School are: Corradina Caporello for Italian, Pierre Vallet for French, Irene Spiegelmanfor German, Kathryn LaBouff for English, Yveta Synek Graff for Czech, and Gina Levinson for Russian. Companion to 50483986 Coloratura Arias for Soprano.

SKU: PR.41641530L

UPC: 680160625925.

The Respiration of the Earth is inspired by the breathing motion. The music focuses on the tension of the air of breathing. There are many different types of breathing such as slow breath, long breath, short breath, holding breath, uneven breath, etc. The shape of the music is created by the inhale and exhale motion. The piece starts with a long holding breath, gradually create a tension until one can't hold that breath and release the air out. The Suona is acting as the motion of the air so the orchestra has to follow. This piece ends with the chaotic motion so the audiences can feel the tension as if they are running out of breath. It's a main concern about the environment of the Earth so this piece is a message to people to keep the environment clean so the Earth can breath for a longer time. Respiration of the Earth is commissioned and dedicated to Mr. Shi Haibin with the gracious support from John Simon Guggenheim Foundation.
The Respiration of the Earth is inspired by the breathing motion. The music focuses on the tension of the air of breathing. There are many different types of breathing such as slow breath, long breath, short breath, holding breath, uneven breath, etc. The shape of the music is created by the inhale and exhale motion. The piece starts with a long holding breath, gradually create a tension until one can’t hold that breath and release the air out. The Suona is acting as the motion of the air so the orchestra has to follow. This piece ends with the chaotic motion so the audiences can feel the tension as if they are running out of breath. It’s a main concern about the environment of the Earth so this piece is a message to people to keep the environment clean so the Earth can breath for a longer time.Respiration of the Earth is commissioned and dedicated to Mr. Shi Haibin with the gracious support from John SimonGuggenheim Foundation.

SKU: BR.PB-5559-07

Tchaikovsky's Hamburg Symphony in the Urtext

ISBN 9790004213698. 6.5 x 9 inches.

Like Hamlet Overture, originating at about the same time, Tchaikovsky's 5th symphony, composed in 1888, focuses on the human existential question: To be or not to be - triumph over fate or triumph of fate? The per aspera ad astra dramaturgy underlying the symphony culminates in triumphant certainty. If Tchaikovsky was initially euphoric, then severe self-doubts befell him after he conducted the premiere in St. Petersburg. These doubts demonstrably led him to make interpretative changes for the Hamburg performance in 1889, including a cut in the finale. Only with the extremely positive response to this performance did his doubts dispel. Nevertheless, Tchaikovsky himself never again conducted the 5th symphony. It was only posthumously established in the repertoire through Arthur Nikisch's commitment. The new edition's textual criticism takes into account besides the autograph and first edition also the first edition's orchestral parts, together with the piano arrangement produced from the autograph by Sergei Taneyev. In addition to thoroughly clarifying dynamics and articulation, the source comparison also corrected many errors and solved problematical passages, such as, for instance, the trombone entry in m. 372 of the finale. Considered, moreover, for the first time has been the composer's doubts about his work and its ambiguities, frequently successfully suppressed in the history of its performance and reception. Tchaikovsky's conductor's copy is unfortunately lost, hence his alterations made for the Hamburg performance are not precisely known. They have survived only indirectly through remarks that Willem Mengelberg left to posterity, for which he could draw on Tchaikovsky's conductor's score and oral references by the composer's brother Modest. So, anyone wishing to deal seriously with the work's certainties will not be able to do so in the future without having also to deal with its uncertainties.

Tchaikovsky's Hamburg Symphony in the Urtext.