SKU: BO.B.3292
English comments: This is the definitive version of Biogenesis, a piece that Cervello had written in 1976, together with his friend Jorge Wagensberg, and which was awarded the First Prize at the Spanish Ministry for Education and Science's Permanent Composition and Musical Research Competition. The new version was made at 1984-85 Lux et umbra is written for a string group consisting of four first and four second violins, three violas, three cellos and a double bass. The conceptual battle between darkness and light is represented by the instability between the notes B and C, and by the compartmentation of the group of fifteen strings into divisi that provide an independent arrangement for each instrument, thus bestowing great substance upon the texture of the music. A cello cadence emerges from a slow and straightforward beginning. A process of contrasts then begins, culminating in a molto vivace passage of a scherzando nature, which alludes to the Baroque concerti grossi. The music once again plays with chiaroscuro until reaching its climax, from which point the conclusion slowly begins, establishing itself in the high register until fading away. The work was first performed at Barcelona's Palau de la Musica by the English Chamber Orchestra, directed by Enrique Garcia Asensio, in 1987. That same year, in the newspaper El Pais, the observations of the composer and critic Francesc Taverna-Bech paid tribute to the work's intelligence as regards the use of and search for instrumental resources (in this case, string instruments, about which Cervello knows a great deal), the skill involved in endowing the lyrical line with tension, and a singular touch that confers formal essence upon the musical discourse. In La Vanguardia, Jordi Llovet wrote that this is a work in which, as is the case with most of Cervello's compositions, the listener finds something covertly religious, a mysterious secret, a transcendence linked to the origins of communication requiring more than a single being, which provides excitement. In 1990, when the Orquesta de Granada (Orchestra of Granada) performed the work at Barcelona's Grec festival, the critic Cesar Calmell opined, in the same newspaper, that inch by inch, surely and imperturbably, Cervello built up a perfect world that reflects the image of the craftsman who, so astonished at the delights of his trade, is unable to do anything but turn the very backdrop of tragedy into something pleasant. Lux et umbra was recorded by the Orchestra Estatal of the Hermitage, conducted by Alexis Soriano (CD SA01210 Fundacion Autor). --Xavier Casanoves Danes Music criticComentarios del Espanol:Se trata de la version definitiva de Biogenesis, obra que habia escrito en 1976 en colaboracion con su amigo Jorge Wagensberg y que obtuvo el Primer Premio, en el ano de su creacion, en el Concurso Permanente de Composicion e Investigacion Musical del Ministerio de Educacion y Ciencia. La nueva version fue realizada en 1984-85. Lux et umbra esta escrita para un grupo de cuerda integrado por cuatro primeros violines, cuatro segundos, tres violas, tres violoncelos y un contrabajo. El combate filosofico entre la oscuridad y la luz lo lleva a cabo la inestabilidad entre las notas si y do y la compartimentacion del grupo de quince cuerdas en unos divisi que llegan a una escritura independiente para cada instrumento, otorgando una gran importancia a la textura sonora. De un principio lento y descarnado emerge una cadencia del violonchelo. A continuacion da comienzo un proceso de contrastes que culmina en un pasaje molto vivace de caracter scherzando que alude a los concerti grossi del barroco. La musica juega de nuevo con el claroscuro hasta llegar a la cumbre sonora iniciando el final lentamente que se instala en el registro agudo hasta desvanecerse. La estreno en el Palau de la Musica de Barcelona la English Chamber Orchestra en el ano 1987 bajo la direccion de Enrique Garcia Asensio. Ese mismo ano, en el periodico El Pais, el compositor y critico Francesc Taverna-Bech reconocia en sus comentarios la inteligencia en el uso y la busqueda de los recursos instrumentales -en este caso la cuerda, de la que Cervello es profundo conocedor-, la destreza para revestir de tension la linea lirica y un tacto particular para conferir entidad formal al discurso sonoro. Jordi Llovet, en La Vanguardia, escribia que en esta obra, se encuentra, como en la mayor parte de la produccion de Cervello, algo secretamente religioso, un arcano misterioso, una trascendencia vinculada a los origenes de la comunicacion impracticable con el ser unico que resulta apasionante. En el ano 1990, cuando la Orquesta de Granada la toco en el Grec de Barcelona, era el critico Cesar Calmell quien, en el mismo periodico consideraba que Cervello construyo palmo a palmo, segura e imperturbablemente, un mundo perfecto que refleja la imagen del artesano que, de tan admirado con las delicias de su oficio, no puede hacer otra cosa que convertir en agradable el fondo mismo de la tragedia. Lux et umbra esta grabada por la Orquesta Estatal del Hermitage, dirigida por Alexis Soriano (CD SA01210 Fundacion Autor). --Xavier Casanoves Danes Critico musical.
SKU: BR.LCE-1
ISBN 9790220118500. 9.5 x 12 inches.
Please check the respective concertos to find the orchestral parts. Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks Ltg. Mariss Jansons (Kompositionsauftrag des BR),,Nirai beschreibt ein imaginiertes Land ein Paradies. Zu Beginn meiner Arbeit hatte ich diese beiden Vorstellungen: von einer Fuge und von den Wurzeln auf Okinawa einer tropischen Insel im Suden Japans. Dort haben viele Baume ganz unglaubliche Formen besonders die Wurzeln haben mich fasziniert. Sie ergeben ausserst komplizierte und organische Gebilde die mich an eine Frage erinnerten. ,,Nirai heisst wortlich ,,aus den Wurzeln kommend oder ,,in Richtung der Wurzeln oder auch ,,Land der Wurzeln. Man verwendet dieses Wort um etwas zu beschreiben das aus der Vergangenheit kommt und das noch heute also in der Gegenwart sinnvoll ist. Genau wie es in Platons ,,Phaidon heisst: Alle alten Dinge kommen aus den neuen und alle neuen Dinge kommen aus den alten. Ich wollte diese Dualitat oder Interaktion zwischen zwei verschiedenen Epochen darstellen. Als Beethoven seine Symphonien schrieb benutzte er die kompositorischen Moglichkeiten die ihm zu jener Zeit zur Verfugung standen. Ich wollte das auch. Wir haben heutzutage ein riesigen Archiv an Techniken und Asthetiken auf die wir zuruckgreifen konnen. Wir konnen aus ihnen die passenden auswahlen oder sie auch kombinieren. In gewisser Weise kann man auch zu diesem Archiv ,,Nirai sagen denn es stellt das Erbe eines Volkes dar. Also wollte ich gerne eine alte Satzweise verwenden die heutzutage nicht so oft zum Einsatz kommt. Ursprunglich wollte ich das ganze Intermezzo in Fugentechnik schreiben. Aber das hat sich als zu schwierig herausgestellt. Ein Rest dieser ursprunglich geplanten Fuge ist am Anfang noch erkennbar. Die Faktur insgesamt ist eher einfach gehalten. Im Stuck ist ein stetes Accelerando angelegt fur den Horer gut wahrnehmbar obwohl mehrere Melodien gleichzeitig in unterschiedlichen Geschwindigkeiten erklingen.Was den Beethoven-Bezug betrifft so nahm ich eine kurze Phrase aus dem Schluss des letzten Satzes der Zweiten Symphonie funf kurze Wechselnoten. Daraus entwickelte ich das Stuck. Bei Beethoven steht diese Phrase in D-Dur naturlich ubernahm ich die Tonart nicht. Was mich reizte war die Tatsache dass es sich um eine kleine Sekunde handelt - das Intervall das in der zeitgenossischen Musik bevorzugt verwendet wird. Die kleine Sekunde ist sehr flexibel sie ermoglicht einem viele Formen der Verwendung. Beethoven war seinen Zeitgenossen vor allem als genialer Improvisator bekannt also nahm ich diese kleine Phrase als Thema einer Improvisation und behandelte es auf sehr freie Art. Von der Sechsten Symphonie entnahm ich keine musikalischen Zitate; stattdessen entwickle ich dieses kurze Intermezzo in ,,pastoraler Form.(Misato Mochizuki) UA der zweisatzigen Fassung: 21.10.2011 NULL World premiere version with two sets: Oct. 21 2011 NULL.
SKU: KN.09780S
UPC: 822795097801.
Characterized by a majestic yet driving rhythm, great harmonic clarity and a lyrical melody, this selection from The Seasons is a marvelous example of Italian Baroque music at its very best. The arranger advises that 8th notes be bowed with a slight separation so that the necessary bite and drive can be achieved. Duration 2:35.
SKU: CF.CAS29
ISBN 9780825860959. UPC: 798408060954. 8.5 X 11 inches. Key: C major.
A programatic work by composer Doris Gazda that sets out to depict the historic moon landing by the Apollo 11 astronauts and the famous first step by Neil Armstrong. A sound portrait of this remarkable event in America history.In July, 1959 the world watched and listened as the astronauts of Apollo 11 traveled from the Earth to the moon. The mission, launched by NASA, successfully carried men to the surface of the moon and returned them safely to earth. The spaceship was made up of a command module, Columbia, and a lunar module, Eagle. Astronauts Neil Armstrong, flight commander, and Buzz Aldrin, pilot of the lunar module, actually walked on the moon. The third astronaut, Michael Collins, piloted Columbia, the command module that orbited the moon while Armstrong and Aldrin were on the lunar surface.The 238,000-mile trip to the moon took four days. Apollo 11 fell into orbit 60 miles above the moon's surface. The Eagle separated from Columbia, orbited the moon nine miles above the surface and then made a powered descent, touching down on the moon in the Seat of Tranquility. Six hours after landing, Armstrong stepped onto the moon's surface uttering these memorable words that brought to reality the possibilities of space travel and exploration, That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.Armstrong and Aldrin spent two hours walking on the lunar surface. They set up some scientific equipment, raised an American flag and left a plaque signed by the Apollo 11 crew and President Richard Nixon, reading:Here men from planet earth first set foot upon the moon. July 1969 A.D. We came in peace for all mankind.Twenty-one hours after landing, the Eagle with Armstrong and Aldrin onboard, left the moon to reunite with Columbia. After docking successfully, all three men got into Columbia. They jettisoned the Eagle and Columbia left lunar orbit to make the return trip. Two days later Columbia re-entered the Earth's atmosphere and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean.
SKU: KN.36685
UPC: 822795366853. 12 x 9 inches.
This is a fun novelty piece meant to inspire a visual of rows of penguins marching along! Written in G Major, there are a few accidentals, some pizzicato and tenuto markings, easy rhythms, double stops and divisi. Cello and bass parts double. Duration 1:50.
SKU: KN.08498S
UPC: 822795084986.
Based on D, G and C major, the melodic lines of this original march give students a great chance to practice and perform scales in a stimulating group setting. Some passages featuring contrary motion may require explanation and careful rehearsal to ensure that they are played correctly. Duration 2:20.
SKU: KN.KEN10008
UPC: 822795100082.
This Maurice Ravel classic is the third of five Pièces Enfantines (Children's Pieces)from the Mother Goose Suite. The pentatonic character lends itself well to the string orchestra. Tremolandos, subtle dynamics, and parallelism abound to capture the spirit of impressionistic music. Duration 4:25.
SKU: KN.09486S
UPC: 822795094862.
Subtitled March of the Gibaros (Peasants), this is one of the finest works ever written by pianist/composer Louis Gottschalk. In this adaptation for student strings, players must make a clean distinction between the melodic and accompaniment elements. The overall dynamic scheme will also require attention since this programmatic music depicts a passing procession (soft to loud to soft as the parade approaches and departs). With the exception of two chordal sections, driving rhythms are typical. Duration ca. 2:30. Available in SmartMusic.
SKU: KJ.GSO31F
Joshua Missal's composition honors a social institution which recently celebrated its 200th birthday in America. Imagine and you can visualize each of the four movements as they reflect an old fashioned circus parade; a herd of elephants; a troupe of aerialists and a horde of colorful clowns.
SKU: FG.042-08610-0
ISBN 979-0-042-08610-0.
Nordgren has had a close partnership with the Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra, and much of his work is in fact scored for string orchestra. Transe-choral for 15 strings proceeds from timbre textures via unison passages to thick webs that finally clarify to become beautiful major chords. This work is in two movements. In the first, the parallel stream of consciousness coexists uneasily and a group of violins with retuned open strings is used to produce a cyclic figure in bare timbres, like revolving crystal. The second movement develops the idea of a melismatically-decorated monody to which the orchestration gradually provides depth. lt is taken up by a solo violin which alternates with passionate cluster!like passages, ultimately reaching a paradisiacal F sharp major chord on which the work closes.
