SKU: HL.49018407
ISBN 9790001175678. UPC: 841886016385. 9.0x12.0x0.067 inches.
A 'Last Night of the Proms' without this march - unthinkable! 'Pomp and Circumstance Military March No. 1' with its middle section, the hymn-like 'Land of Hope and Glory' by Edward Elgar (1857-1934), belongs to the finale of the London music event like the Radetzky March usually played as last piece to the New Year's Concert of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. The fame and popularity of the other four military marches composed by Elgar between 1901 and 1907 fade in comparison to this secret national anthem of Great Britain (although strongly rivalled by 'Rule, Britannia!'). It is, indeed, an equally rousing and catchy piece of music, and the catchy tune in the middle has just become a classical 'hit'. Thanks to the present edition, all those who do not have a large symphony orchestra at home can now play this rousing march by themselves.
SKU: BR.EB-9441
ISBN 9790004189184. 9 x 12 inches.
The two sonatas of Johannes Brahms's op. 120 are widely hailed as crowning points of the repertoire for clarinet and piano. Moreover, in the version for viola and piano arranged by Brahms himself, they rank among the most frequently played viola works of the 19th century. They far surpass in compositional substance the relatively few original sonatas written for these instrumentations during the same period.Of the two fellow works, the Sonata No. 2 in E flat major is the more accessible. Diverging from the classical-romantic tradition, Brahms used the key of E flat major here not to express the heroic or monumental, but to obtain lyrical, chiefly restrained characterizations. The serenade-like beauty of the principal theme, which opens the sonata, has always been particularly admired. In his review of the world premiere, the renowned Viennese music critic Eduard Hanslick, a friend of Brahms's, raves with the words it was as if it had fallen from the Heavens. The closing set of variations also follows with gentle gracefulness this lyrical character. However, the middle movement, with its tempestuous outer sections in E flat minor and the hymnic trio in B major provides a passionate and serious contrast, which allows the flanking idyll to unfold its beauties all the more insistently.
SKU: FG.55011-906-2
ISBN 9790550119062.
Harri Wessman's Summer Variations for viola and piano (1998) exploites the rich and romantic sound of the viola and enjoys the many shades of summer days. It is dedicated to violist Yuri Gandelsman, who premiered the suite with Risto Lauriala 15th June 1998.Duration: c. 11'Movements:1. Summer theme2. What is this?3. Pizzicato4. Con sordino5. Stile concitato ostinato6. Tango7. FinaleHarri Wessman (b. 1949) is interested in all aspects of music that may be expressive, without in any way ignoring the possibilities of melody. He himself describes his harmonic method as a kind of contrapuntally treated jazz harmony. Wessman is particularly preoccupied with the ability of music to express emotions, an interest which has led him to study the so-called doctrine of the affections and the musical rhetoric of the baroque era. His Eine kleine Figurenlehre for wind quartet and piano is a playful application of a set of baroque musical figures.His output is dominated by chamber and vocal music as well as a number of concertos for various instruments such as the Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra and the Serenade for Piano and String Orchestra. During recent years pedagogic music has become a more and more central area in his output with an emphasis on creating repertoire for budding musicians, from beginners to young professionals. He has even tailored some solo and chamber works for young musicians that he personally knows: e.g. Five Trombone Pieces for Minna Kajander (1992), Five Horn Pieces for Jenni Kuronen (1993), Five Piano Etudes for Tiina Karakorpi, Five Trumpet Pieces for Alevtina Parland and Five Double Bass Pieces for Amanda Thieme. Other chamber and solo pieces include Pan and the Nymph Pitys (1979) for flute and guitar, Three Caprices for Konstantin Weitz (1994) for solo violin and Capriccio for wind ensemble (1989).
SKU: HL.49019370
ISBN 9790001189804. UPC: 884088992378. 9.0x12.0x0.052 inches.
'Songs Without Words' - that's what Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809-1847) called his lyrical piano pieces, romantic miniatures in which the composer wanted to 'sing' on the keyboard instrument. With them, he invented an entirely new form of chamber music playing in the 19th century. These 'Songs' are also perfectly suitable for duet playing: for a melodic instrument with piano accompaniment. The 'Song Without Words' Op 30/3 is a rewarding lyrical solo piece.
