SKU: HL.14004213

9.0x12.0x0.175 inches.

Five Pieces for Violin and Orchestra was commissioned by Frederick Grinke and completed on 20 December 1961. The BBC Symphony Orchestra with Frederick Grinke (violin) and conducted by the composer, gave the first performance on 31 July 1962 at the Royal Albert Hall, London during the BBC Proms season. This work is so constructed that each piece is complete in itself and can be played separately, while at the same time the whole set of five constitutes a structural unit. A basic motif consisting of a rising semitone followed by a falling tone, and its inversion plays an important part in every piece. Thus the first piece, which is of a slow and meditative character, begins with this theme in the bass. It is also heard in the first entry of the solo part, and thereafter every episode is in some way derived from it. The next piece, a vigorous and strongly marked 'allegro', uses the semitone of the original figure as its starting point. A second theme appears, first on the horns and is later taken up by the solo violin, while a third section has the initial idea as its accompaniment. Next comes an extended scherzo in free form very closely based on initial motif. The fourth is a purely melodic piece containing allusions in its middle section to the basic figure. Here the strings only are used for accompaniment. In the first section, violas and cellos are divided in the middle section, and all the strings are used in the last, which is otherwise an almost exact repetition of the opening. The Finale is a lighter movement than the others, concerned mainly with giving the soloist material for display, but not unconnected with what has gone before.

SKU: HL.49045418

ISBN 9784890664856. 9.0x12.0x0.135 inches.

Four Imaginary Landscapes from Basho for violin and piano was commissioned by Concert Hall Shizouka. This work consists of four pices which can be performed independently. Three pieces: 2. Spring (Petal by petal fluttering down yellow mountain roses-, Sound of the rapids.) 3. Summer (The summer grass-, holding still the dreams of the stalwart warriors.), and 4. Autumn (Chrysanthemum scent..., in Nara Ancient statues of Momo Kodama (piano) in Shizouka on March 9th, 2007. 1 Winter (Sound of oar hitting waves in the dead of night, Freezing bowels..., tears.) was premiered by Keiko Urushibara (violin) and Shigeo Neriki (piano) in Shizouka on January 14th, 2011. Hisako Takahashi (violin) and Kyoko Sasaki (piano) performed all of the pieces on March 13th, 2011.

SKU: AP.1-ADV6001

UPC: 805095060010. English.

Each of the four movements in Tango Suite No. 1 has its own profile and poses different challenges to the musicians. The first movement is rubato; the second one is bound to a fixed meter and set up as a multifaceted tale. The third movement can be improvised over an accompanying ostinato; an optional written part is provided. The fourth movement completes the suite with an overview of what has been played in the other movements. Arranged for violin and piano by Hauke Piper.

SKU: PR.144407050

UPC: 680160655519. 9 x 12 inches.

Celebrating 30 years, the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society commissioned a work of 20-25 minutes for violin and piano from James Primosch, University of Pennsylvania professor of music. Primosch had originally thought to create a new sonata, but what developed is more appropriately a set of five character pieces, two of which were directly inspired by poems. Five Poems was premiered in May, 2016, and Primosch's thoughts are recorded at his website: https://jamesprimosch.com/2016/05/10/five-poems-premiere/.
Upon receiving a commission from the Philadelphia Chamber MusicSociety for a violin and piano piece in honor of its 30th anniversary, myplan was to write a sonata, a term suggesting a relatively abstractdiscourse. But as the piece developed, the movements struck me ascharacter pieces rather than music employing a more “symphonic”approach. When specific poems started to attach themselves in my mindwith two of the movements, the overall title Five Poems became clear.The title of the second movement is a line from Susan Stewart’s“Descent”, which deals with Aeneas’s visit to the underworld. The musicis alternately fiercely driving and quite still, though tense. RobertFrost’s Nothing Gold Can Stay summons fleet scale passages framinglyrical counterpoint. The remaining movements do not refer to specificpoems, but have titles reflecting their expressive tone. Dreamscape ismusing with an improvisatory violin line over shifting pairs of pianochords. Nightsong is a bluesy lullaby that turns highly dramatic.Vision begins with a closely argued struggle but breaks through tosomething spacious and clear.

SKU: HL.49028168

ISBN 9790204002139. 9.0x12.0x0.052 inches.

SKU: PR.11140253S

UPC: 680160631377. 9.5x13 inches. Based on a traditional African folk tale.

As a standalone performance piece, Dorff's A Treeful of Monkeys is a delightful telling of an African folk tale, complete with narration. The instrumental ensemble describes a hat seller, a good number of hats, and a good number of monkeys up in the trees with those hats. Commissioned by the Philadelphia Orchestra Association, however, A Treeful of Monkeys is also an opportunity to introduce musical elements to young students, with Dorff's suggested educational objectives and performance tips suitable for classroom use.