SKU: HL.49018099

ISBN 9790001158428. UPC: 884088567347. 8.25x11.75x0.457 inches. Latin - German.

On letting go(Concerning the selection of the texts) In the selection of the texts, I have allowed myself to be motivated and inspired by the concept of 'letting go'. This appears to me to be one of the essential aspects of dying, but also of life itself. We humans cling far too strongly to successful achievements, whether they have to do with material or ideal values, or relationships of all kinds. We cannot and do not want to let go, almost as if our life depended on it. As we will have to practise the art of letting go at the latest during our hour of death, perhaps we could already make a start on this while we are still alive. Tagore describes this farewell with very simple but strikingly vivid imagery: 'I will return the key of my door'. I have set this text for tenor solo. Here I imagine, and have correspondingly noted in a certain passage of the score, that the protagonist finds himself as though 'in an ocean' of voices in which he is however not drowning, but immersing himself in complete relaxation. The phenomenon of letting go is described even more simply and tersely in Psalm 90, verse 12: 'So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom'. This cannot be expressed more plainly.I have begun the requiem with a solo boy's voice singing the beginning of this psalm on a single note, the note A. This in effect says it all. The work comes full circle at the culmination with a repeat of the psalm which subsequently leads into a resplendent 'lux aeterna'. The intermediate texts of the Requiem which highlight the phenomenon of letting go in the widest spectrum of colours originate on the one hand from the Latin liturgy of the Messa da Requiem (In Paradisum, Libera me, Requiem aeternam, Mors stupebit) and on the other hand from poems by Joseph von Eichendorff, Hermann Hesse, Rabindranath Tagore and Rainer Maria Rilke.All texts have a distinctive positive element in common and view death as being an organic process within the great system of the universe, for example when Hermann Hesse writes: 'Entreiss dich, Seele, nun der Zeit, entreiss dich deinen Sorgen und mache dich zum Flug bereit in den ersehnten Morgen' ['Tear yourself way , o soul, from time, tear yourself away from your sorrows and prepare yourself to fly away into the long-awaited morning'] and later: 'Und die Seele unbewacht will in freien Flugen schweben, um im Zauberkreis der Nacht tief und tausendfach zu leben' ['And the unfettered soul strives to soar in free flight to live in the magic sphere of the night, deep and thousandfold']. Or Joseph von Eichendorff whose text evokes a distant song in his lines: 'Und meine Seele spannte weit ihre Flugel aus. Flog durch die stillen Lande, als floge sie nach Haus' ['And my soul spread its wings wide. Flew through the still country as if homeward bound.']Here a strong romantically tinged occidental resonance can be detected which is however also accompanied by a universal spirit going far beyond all cultures and religions. In the beginning was the sound Long before any sort of word or meaningful phrase was uttered by vocal chords, sounds, vibrations and tones already existed. This brings us back to the music. Both during my years of study and at subsequent periods, I had been an active participant in the world of contemporary music, both as percussionist and also as conductor and composer. My early scores had a somewhat adventurous appearance, filled with an abundance of small black dots: no rhythm could be too complicated, no register too extreme and no harmony too dissonant. I devoted myself intensely to the handling of different parameters which in serial music coexist in total equality: I also studied aleatory principles and so-called minimal music.I subsequently emigrated and took up residence in Spain from where I embarked on numerous travels over the years to India, Africa and South America. I spent repeated periods during this time as a resident in non-European countries. This meant that the currents of contemporary music swept past me vaguely and at a great distance. What I instead absorbed during this period were other completely new cultures in which I attempted to immerse myself as intensively as possible.I learned foreign languages and came into contact with musicians of all classes and styles who had a different cultural heritage than my own: I was intoxicated with the diversity of artistic potential.Nevertheless, the further I distanced myself from my own Western musical heritage, the more this returned insistently in my consciousness.The scene can be imagined of sitting somewhere in the middle of the Brazilian jungle surrounded by the wailing of Indians and out of the blue being provided with the opportunity to hear Beethoven's late string quartets: this can be a heart-wrenching experience, akin to an identity crisis. This type of experience can also be described as cathartic. Whatever the circumstances, my 'renewed' occupation with the 'old' country would not permit me to return to the point at which I as an audacious young student had maltreated the musical parameters of so-called contemporary music. A completely different approach would be necessary: an extremely careful approach, inching my way gradually back into the Western world: an approach which would welcome tradition back into the fold, attempt to unfurl the petals and gently infuse this tradition with a breath of contemporary life.Although I am aware that I will not unleash a revolution or scandal with this approach, I am nevertheless confident as, with the musical vocabulary of this Requiem, I am travelling in an orbit in which no ballast or complex structures will be transported or intimated: on the contrary, I have attempted to form the message of the texts in music with the naivety of a 'homecomer'. Harald WeissColonia de San PedroMarch 2009.

SKU: AP.49072

ISBN 9781470647780. UPC: 038081567006. English.

This multi-level piece includes a full set of parts for grade 1 as well as a full set for grade 2 ensembles. Mix and match the parts as you need---perfect for mixed-ability ensembles!

Representing one of Mark Wood's favorite places to visit, Arizona Sun was inspired by the sheer beauty and power of the American southwest, specifically that of the Grand Canyon State. The work is in the key of A major, and based on a traditional blues progression that can be found in early rock and roll. Arizona Sun features two sections that allow the players to improvise. For string orchestra with optional rock rhythm section parts. (3:00)

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SKU: AP.49068

ISBN 9781470647827. UPC: 038081567044. English.

This multi-level piece includes a full set of parts for grade 2 as well as a full set for grade 3 ensembles. Mix and match the parts as you need---perfect for mixed-ability ensembles!

String Thang by Mark Wood is based on the twelve-bar blues. The blues has deep roots in American history, developed out of the work songs and chants of African-American slaves. The Great Migration of the first half of the 20th century saw freed slaves and their descendants move to northern and eastern parts of the U.S., taking their music with them. The blues took on different forms; in turn it helped to create rock, jazz, hip-hop, and other popular genres. A twelve-bar blues uses a repeating chord progression which allows musicians to express themselves creatively with each recurrence. If anything defines the blues, it is the use of blue notes---pitches that don't usually belong in a given key---and elements of improvisation. String Thang uses both blue notes in the main tune and the solo violin's part, as well as improvisational principles in the solo. For string orchestra with optional rock rhythm section parts. (2:45)

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SKU: SU.32040140

2222; 4331; timp, 2 perc, pno; stgs Duration: 13'30 Composed: 2016 Published by: Amy Mills Music, LLC Like a modern Pictures at an Exhibition…. Ha Shamayim is an original piece for orchestra that was inspired by photographs taken by the Hubble space telescope. Each section is inspired by one photo; the title of each section is the title that NASA gave to the photograph. The words Ha Shamayim are Hebrew for The Heavens. They are written in Genesis 1:1, In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The words are also seen in Psalm 19. Section I: Warped Edge-On Galaxy ESO 510-G13 The piece begins in outer space with its glistening stars. Glissandi are used to depict the strange but beautiful warp seen in the photograph. Section II: Galaxy Fires at Neighboring Galaxy Suddenly the piece erupts as one galaxy fires blue gas at its neighbor. They engage in a cosmic battle. Section III: Youthful-looking Galaxy May Be an Adult The adolescent galaxy is personified by a humorous, gawky melody reminiscent of teenage boys who walk on feet that are still too big. Occasionally there is an argument with an authority figure, but the joy of exploring the universe quickly returns. Section IV: Star Birth in Galaxy M83 The dramatic photograph looks like a womb with veins. The music begins on one note, then it begins to explore the initial swelling and stretching. It morphs into an energetic fast theme, still growing. Ultimately it becomes glorious and expansive, like the new star. Section V: String of ‘Cosmic Pearls’ Surrounds an Exploding Star The first theme is a happy circle dance inspired by the circle of white dots in the photograph. The second theme is noble and joyful. It is reminiscent of the melody in the famous chorus in Haydn’s The Creation with the words from Psalm 19, The heavens are telling the glory of God. The music then has flashbacks to the earlier sections, and ends in triumph. The five sections in Ha Shamayim are continuous with no breaks. Difficulty Level: 5 (Advanced/Professional) See composer website for audio sample. Performance materials available on rental only:.

SKU: AP.35895S

UPC: 038081407449. English.

Get the whole room clapping! This fun piece is designed to let the director interact with the audience and give the students, parents, and grandparents an opportunity to participate in the program with the ensemble. It has a blues feel and the director could turn this into an impromptu lesson on dynamics, the blues, or the different sounds of the strings: pizzicato, arco, and tremolo.

SKU: AP.48066

UPC: 038081557557. English.

Brilliantly scored and in a friendly key, Blue Tango by Leroy Anderson, arranged by Chris M. Bernotas, will highlight your symphony orchestra in any concert or festival. This classic reached the top of the Billboard charts in the early 1950s and will be a favorite for both your students and audience. Closely arranged to the original, the beautiful melodies, full range of dynamics, and clearly marked articulations will provide excellent teaching moments and exciting performances. (3:00) This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.

SKU: AP.49070S

ISBN 9781470647933. UPC: 038081567150. English.

This multi-level piece includes a full set of parts for grade 2 as well as a full set for grade 3 ensembles. Mix and match the parts as you need---perfect for mixed-ability ensembles!

Crazy Train was co-written by one of Mark Wood's main influences and favorite guitar players, Randy Rhoads, a neo-classical rock guitar player. When Wood discovered him, Rhoads was fully entrenched in the standard rock/blues style, yet had wonderful control of the flourish and esthetic of classical music in his playing. The influence was perfect for Mark Wood, who was an up-and-coming rock violinist at the time. For string orchestra with optional rock rhythm section parts. (5:30)

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