SKU: CY.CC2718

The Chants du Rhin (Songs of the Rhine), a cycle of six pieces, based on poems by Joseph Mery, were written in 1865, and Bizet performed two of them on 16 April 1866 at a soiree of the Beaujolais Philharmonic Society. The songs are grouped symmetrically around La bohemienne as the central piece, framed by two meditatively yearning pieces (in E and D flat major) and two vividly exuberant ones (similarly in E and D flat major), with L'aurore serving as an introduction.

In this cycle Bizet takes up the theme of the gypsy girl which had already entered European music in the operas The Bohemian Girl by the Irish composer Michael William Balfe and Verdi's Il trovatore, as well as in Franz Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsodies for piano. Bizet will return to it one year later in La jolie fille de Perth and ten years later in Carmen. The fourth piece Les confidences shows similarities in tonality, structure and motifs to the middle part of the third movement of Chopin's Sonata in B minor.

SKU: CY.CC2518

The Petite Suite, published in 1885, is Borodin's major work for the Piano and originally comprised of seven movements. Mr. Sauer's arrangement incorporates three of them: Intermezzo, Reverie and Serenade. The Petite Suite was dedicated to the Belgian Countess Louise de Mercy-Argenteau, who was a supporter of Borodin and his music. After Borodin's death in 1887, Glazunov orchestrated the Suite.

The music has that Eastern flavor so indicative of Borodin's melodies, mysterious, lyrical and subtle. Advanced performers will enjoy this work which has been so beautifully arranged by Mr. Sauer.

SKU: CY.CC2853

The Intermezzo & Farandole are both from the 2nd L'Arlesienne Suite arranged by Guiraud in 1879, four years after Bizet's untimely death.
The Intermezzo is slow and powerful, whereas the Farandole, which incorporates the theme from the March of the Kings is fast and bouncy.
Mr. Sauer's arrangement is a joy to perform. The 6-minute suite of two movements is appropriate for moderately advanced performers.

SKU: CY.CC3136

ISBN 9790530111055. 8.5 x 11 in inches.

This fine work has sat dormant for many years and has now come to light thanks to the efforts of Charlie Vernon, Bass Trombonist of the Chicago Symphony, who performed this virtuoso work as a young performer. The concerto is in the standard three movement form: Fast, slow, fast. This publication is a reduction from the original orchestral version (to be released at some point in the future). Here is a description of the Concerto by the composer, John W. Ware. I started on the trombone concerto in my junior year studying composition at Indiana University. While working on it, I learned of an opportunity to make it sort of a thesis piece (though students didn't write a thesis in composition while an undergrad). The original version was for trombone with string orchestra, and it was performed by the IU String Orchestra, conducted by Dr. Arthur Corra, with Robert Priez, trombone, as part of my senior composition recital. I thought the performance was quite good (Priez played extraordinarily well), and the piece received a newspaper review in the Indiana Daily Student, in which the reviewer wrote that the work was almost too exciting. I thought at the time that he had given me and my music a fine compliment. I made a piano version of the accompaniment, shortening and tightening the first movement, for performances in 1966; I made a second revision in 1967 for a performance by E. J. Eaton, trombonist at the University of Tennessee at Martin, arriving at the form in which the work exists now. The first movement is in fairly normal sonata-allegro form, in the key of A minor. It alternates between assertive and more thoughtful moods. There is no introduction; the soloist enters immediately and dominates much of the movement. The main theme is--by some manipulation--a source for most of the other themes, and all of the themes are used in close proximity to each other, including contrapuntal combinations, especially near the end. Originally the movement included a lengthy fugato, now much shortened and including a stretto that builds and subsides before a cadenza leading to a coda based on both the principal and secondary themes. Key relations in this movement, as in the other two, are quite free and often chromatic, with frequent third-relations; but returns to the tonic at the end are emphatic. The writing is challenging for both soloist and accompanist; the piece is substantial, requiring technique and stamina. The second movement is in F minor and is also built on both contrast and close relationships between the main and secondary themes. The main theme is heard in the piano part before the soloist enters. The mood is more lyric than in the first movement, but with dramatic episodes also. In this movement are some definite derivations from themes in the first movement. The ending is a sort of lengthened shadow of the opening. The finale returns to A minor, with themes slightly related to polonaise rhythms, but with strong echoes of first-movement themes. Here, too, dramatic and lyric episodes alternate, with dotted rhythms frequently propelling the music forward. The introduction is a brief and simple preparation for the solo entry. Later in the movement, a very brief, slightly slower section is soon overtaken by the original tempo. Toward the end, there is a second cadenza, again leading to a swift and energetic coda. The work is about 20 minutes in length and is appropriate for advanced performers.

SKU: CY.CC3150

ISBN 9790530111185. 8.5 x 11 in inches.

Here is a brief description of this very fine new work The Secret of Ben Sogen for Trombone and Piano by the composer, Elizabeth Raum: I've always been fascinated by the Nordic heroes that appear in comic books and video games like Thor or Odin. Years ago, I wrote a concerto for tuba called The Legend of Heimdall inspired by Scandinavian folklore, and for this new work for trombone, I found myself drawn to the Danish mythical character, Ben Sogen. My concept was to conjure up a video game champion who goes through various adventures to achieve his final quest. However, the Secret of Ben Sogen is that he doesn't exist. I made him up. My original title was Bone Quest, a pun on the word, trombone, combined with Quest but that didn't evoke the image I wanted so I decided to create a character from the Danish translation of Bone Quest. Thus Ben Sogen. The Hero Trombonist has a theme stated in the beginning, and this motif continues through a variety of backgrounds (or adventures) before the final major key of his goal being achieved. The work is about 7 minutes in length and appropriate for advanced performers.

SKU: CY.CC2566

Bartok's Allegro Barbaro, composed in 1911 is one of his most famous solo piano works, written in his typical style using folk elements based on Hungarian Pentatonic and Romanian chromatic scales. The music has even been used on a composition by the Progressive rock group Emerson, Lake and Palmer from their 1970 debut album.

Ralph Sauer's brilliant arrangement for Trombone and Piano is reminiscent of the famous Trombone passage from the Miraculous Mandarin ballet suite.

This 3 minute work is suitable for advanced performers.

The sound clip is performed by Mr. Sauer with Mac Booke on piano.

SKU: CY.CC2813

Drei Stucke (Three Pieces) for Trombone and Piano by Alexander Zemlinsky is an early work composed in 1891, and originally scored for Cello and Piano. It has been beautifully arranged for Trombone and Piano by Eric High.
The three movements are titled:
I. Humoreske
II. Lied
III. Tarantell
About 8 minutes in length, it is appropriate for advanced performers.

SKU: CY.CC2773

A wonderful collection of Traditional Christmas Carols in a jazz style for Trombone and Piano arranged by British arranger and Trumpeter, Keith Terrett. The Carols included are: Ding Dong Merrily On High, Silent Night, We Three Kings, Away in a Manger, Joy to the World, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Deck the Halls & Good King Wenceslas. The Trombone part is all written out with jazz inflections and articulation included. The Piano part is all written out, but also includes the jazz chords for players who wish to comp. These Carols are playable by moderately advanced performers and are perfect for parties, church services, busking & recitals. Range is moderate. Mr. Terrett makes use of different mutes for a wide range of colors.

SKU: CY.CC2534

Ralph Sauer has beautifully arranged four movements from Opus 40 for Trombone and Piano:

1. Chanson Triste
2. Valse
3. Reverie interrompue
4. Danse russe

These four movements totalling 14 minutes of music offer the artist a great deal of musical contrasts, ranging from lyrical, dramatic, dance-like, etc.

An excellent collection of the Russian master's music for the Trombone.

SKU: CY.CC2234

John Dowland (1563-1626) was an English Renaissance composer, singer and lutenist. He is well known for his melancholy songs and instrumental music, especially for lute and guitar. Mr. Beghtol's lovely transcription for intermediate Trombone is a wonderful short work that combines lyrical and Renaissance dance styles. The Trombone part is in bass clef.

SKU: CY.CC2572

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor's Gypsy Song and Dance, arranged beautifully by Mr. Sauer for Trombone and Piano is taken from his four-movement Gypsy Suite Opus 20, originally published in 1898 for Violin and Piano, a very prolific year for the composer. Eventually this work and others were orchestrated by a colleague.

The two movements of nine minutes in length are suitable for advanced performers.

SKU: CY.CC2512

Jan Freidlin has written a delightful work in 8 movements for Trombone and Piano called A Little Theater Buffo. It is the story of a circus clown and his adventures with his friends. The titles of the movements are:

1. Ouverture
2. Recitativo & Refrain
3. Piano Interlude
4. The Puppet Show
5. Harlequin's Arietta
6. Duetto Military
7. Romance of Pierrot
8. Final Kaleidoscope

This work is about 15 minutes in length, for advanced performers and will make a wonderful addition to a recital.

The sample digital sound file is an excerpt from movement 6. Duetto Military, a sarcastic march featuring a dialog between the Trombonist and the Pianist.

SKU: CY.CC2709

--Four Pieces from Opus 11 arranged for Trombone and Piano by Ralph Sauer are originally from a group of seven pieces for solo Piano written between 1917 and 1918, except for movement 3, Il pleure dans mon coeur comme il pleut sur la ville (It rains in my heart like it rains in the city) from 1910.

--The writing is very expressive and dark, possibly evoking the mood of Europe in the throes of great upheavals and the Great War.

--About 12 minutes in length, these four movements are appropriate for advanced performers.

SKU: CY.CC3003

ISBN 9790530058237.

Liebeslied, Op. 22 No. 2, was originally composed by Böhme around 1907 for solo Cornet and Orchestra and then reduced for Piano accompaniment. The work has rich romantic melodies and harmonies and gives the performers lots of room for expression.
William Stanley has arranged this work beautifully and it is now available for the first time in years for solo Trombone.
The music is perfect for an intermediate to advanced performer and is about 4 minutes in length.