SKU: PR.114422690

UPC: 680160684809. 9 x 12 inches.

In 2014, I enjoyed a wonderful residence at the Ucross Foundation in Clearmont,
Wyoming. Ucross is an artist colony that gives writers, composers, and visual artists the
gift of time, space, and support to follow their artistic pursuits; we are provided with
studio space, housing, and meals so that we can work continuously on our projects. I have
been in residence at numerous artist colonies; however, nothing in my previous
experiences prepared me for living in such isolated, wild country. Ucross is situated on a
20,000-acre cattle ranch at nearly 4,000 feet in elevation with fewer than 150 people
living within the town. But what Clearmont lacks in population, it makes up for
abundantly and spectacularly in wilderness and wildlife. I composed the sextet Postcards
from Wyoming to offer three glimpses of what I found to be the most striking aspects of
my residence. The Solitude of Stars, the third and final movement of the original sextet,
was inspired by the stunning nightly display of the heavens above. Without city lights
dimming the night sky, countless stars shone brightly over the vast expanse of the prairie.
This edition is part of The Solitude of Stars Project that I undertook during the 2020
COVID-19 pandemic, which consists of a series of arrangements that I made for
colleagues and friends.
In 2014, I enjoyed a wonderful residence at the Ucross Foundation in Clearmont, Wyoming. Ucross is an artist colony that gives writers, composers, and visual artists the gift of time, space, and support to follow their artistic pursuits; we are provided with studio space, housing, and meals so that we can work continuously on our projects. I have been in residence at numerous artist colonies; however, nothing in my previous experiences prepared me for living in such isolated, wild country. Ucross is situated on a 20,000-acre cattle ranch at nearly 4,000 feet in elevation with fewer than 150 people living within the town. But what Clearmont lacks in population, it makes up for abundantly and spectacularly in wilderness and wildlife. I composed the sextet Postcards from Wyoming to offer three glimpses of what I found to be the most striking aspects of my residence. The Solitude of Stars, the third and final movement of the original sextet, was inspired by the stunning nightly display of the heavens above. Without city lights dimming the night sky, countless stars shone brightly over the vast expanse of the prairie. This edition is part of The Solitude of Stars Project that I undertook during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, which consists of a series of arrangements that I made for colleagues and friends.
In 2014, I enjoyed a wonderful residence at the Ucross Foundation in Clearmont,Wyoming. Ucross is an artist colony that gives writers, composers, and visual artists thegift of time, space, and support to follow their artistic pursuits; we are provided withstudio space, housing, and meals so that we can work continuously on our projects. I havebeen in residence at numerous artist colonies; however, nothing in my previousexperiences prepared me for living in such isolated, wild country. Ucross is situated on a20,000-acre cattle ranch at nearly 4,000 feet in elevation with fewer than 150 peopleliving within the town. But what Clearmont lacks in population, it makes up forabundantly and spectacularly in wilderness and wildlife. I composed the sextet Postcardsfrom Wyoming to offer three glimpses of what I found to be the most striking aspects ofmy residence. The Solitude of Stars, the third and final movement of the original sextet,was inspired by the stunning nightly display of the heavens above. Without city lightsdimming the night sky, countless stars shone brightly over the vast expanse of the prairie.This edition is part of The Solitude of Stars Project that I undertook during the 2020COVID-19 pandemic, which consists of a series of arrangements that I made forcolleagues and friends.

SKU: DY.DO-1525

ISBN 9782897963057.

J'aime les formes musicales concises telles que le Prélude et la Fugue, où il y a une idée claire et directe, suivie d'une autre plus complexe et développée.

Conformément à cette idée, cette œuvre se compose de deux pièces distinctes, la première - Transfigured Life - vise à attirer l'auditeur avec son rythme rapide et dansant et sa partie de violon simple et mélodique. Il se «transfigure» via quelques courts intermèdes au piano solo en seulement deux notes alternées pour terminer - qui sont le cœur de l'idée originale, maintenant clarifiée en effaçant tout le reste.

Le deuxième morceau - Still Life - conserve son sentiment de quiétude grâce à une ligne de piano simple qui laisse beaucoup d'espace à la partie contrastée (mais encore une fois simple) du violon. En tant que pièce absolue et non programmatique, le titre fait référence uniquement à la couleur et au rythme atmosphériques ; c'est à l'auditeur de voir la « nature morte » de son choix dans son esprit.

Une note sur les performances :
Malgré ma référence à des lignes « simples » et l'évitement déterminé par l'œuvre des grincements modernistes traditionnels, l'œuvre présente certains défis d'exécution en termes de phrasé et d'ensemble qui nécessitent des compétences et une musicalité considérables. L'œuvre a eu le privilège d'être récemment enregistrée par le violoniste Ezgi Sarıkcıoğlu et la pianiste Rossitza Stoycheva, et est disponible sur toutes les principales plateformes :

https://open.spotify.com/album/6p5YIe17ci0UMuo2RqZgjR
https://music.apple.com/gb/album/transfigured-life-still-life-world-premiere-recording/1738035953
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Transfigured Life - Still Life, Op. 165 (violin and piano) - David Braid

I am keen on concise musical forms such as Prelude and Fugue, where there is one clear straightforward idea, followed by another that is more involved and developed.

In keeping with that idea, this work consists of two distinct pieces, the first - Transfigured Life - aims to draw in the listener with its quick, dancing rhythm and simple, melodic violin part. It 'transfigures' via a few short solo piano interludes into just two alternating notes to end - which are the core of the original idea, now made clear by clearing everything else out of the way.

The second piece - Still Life - retains its sense of stillness through an uncomplicated piano line that gives lots of space for the violin's contrasting (but again simple) part. As an absolute, not programmatic, piece the title refers to the atmospheric colour and pacing only; it's up to the listener to see 'Still life' of their choosing in their own mind.

A note on performance:
Despite my reference to 'simple' lines, and the work's determined avoidance of mainstream modernist squeak - the work has certain performance challenges of phrasing and ensemble that requires considerable skill and musicianship. The work has had the privilege of being recently recorded by violinist Ezgi Sarıkcıoğlu and pianist Rossitza Stoycheva, and is available on all major platforms:

https://open.spotify.com/album/6p5YIe17ci0UMuo2RqZgjR
https://music.apple.com/gb/album/transfigured-life-still-life-world-premiere-recording/1738035953.

SKU: PR.414411630

ISBN 9781491114551. UPC: 680160089956. 9.5 x 13 inches.

EXCURSIONS is a one-movement work exploring two “characters.” A rhapsodic, descending passage is introduced by the cello, followed by a  static, chorale-like phrase for the violin and cello. Their individual developments are separated by a slow, contrasting middle section. The composer has written: “This is analogous to situations in life: we stand by a crossroad, choosing one option and forfeiting the other. But in art, the realm of the imagination, we can perhaps afford to pursue more than one route to its ultimate destination… or can we? It is symbolic that in this work both roads eventually lead to the same place.”.
Excursions for violin, cello and piano, is a one-movement work of tripartite structure in which materials explored in the first of three large sections are brought back in the last section.  The traditional statement-contrast-restatement form, which is readily suggested by such a description, is, however, not at all in the mold in which the work is cast.  Rather, my aim was to subject the essential materials of the piece (two “characters” –the rhapsodic, descending passage played by the cello in the very opening and, later, a static, slow moving, chorale-like phrase for the violin and cello) to two entirely different developments separated by a slow, contrasting middle section.  This is analogous to an exploration of the ramifications that two divergent choices made by the same person might lead to.  In life, as we stand by a crossroad, choosing one option usually means having to forfeit the other.  But in art, the realm of the imagination, we can perhaps afford to pursue more than one route to its ultimate destination…or can we?  It is, I believe, symbolic that in this work both roads eventually lead to the same place: in composing Excursions, it seemed absolutely inescapable that at the end the slow, contrasting middle sections – both more resigned and peaceful than the battling spirits of the outer parts – should return briefly to end the work. The piano trio combination (once highly favored, but to this composer still as challenging today) is approached here as a collaborative effort of three equal soloists – partners.  Of the available pairings, the two strings find themselves occasionally approached as a team pitted against the piano.  The cello-piano combination is also not uncommon here, and there is an extended violin cadenza toward the end of the piece.  The writing for the three instruments is closely and at times interlinked, but the players are all instructed to play from scores. Excursions was first performed at Brandeis University in 1982.

SKU: FG.55011-466-1

ISBN 9790550114661.

Armas Jarnefelt (1869-1958) was a Finnish composer and conductor. Jarnefelt studied in Berlin in 1890-91 with Albert Becker as his teacher. In addition to composing studies, Jarnefelt fully enjoyed the life that a bustling metropolis could offer to a young man - concerts, operas, cafe life etc. Romanze, composed for Geraldine Morgan, was premiered in Helsinki in February 1892. According to critics (notably Bis Wasenius) the work was un-Finnish, perhaps echoing the continental winds Jarnefelt had experienced in Berlin. That aside, Jarnefelt's future brother-in-law, Jean Sibelius, analyzed the Romanze in a letter to his fiancee, Aino, sister of Armas: I think Romanze is a fine technical accomplishment, even the structure works well, given the theme as it is. But Armas certainly can do better than this, he should not waste his efforts in small-scale [salon] music. - Armas will find his own way and will be hailed as the greatest musician of this country..

SKU: HL.14043856

ISBN 9781849385626.

Raymond Briggs' charming Christmas story about the adventures of a boy and the snowman that comes to life is a modern children's classic. The tales popularity has been further enhanced by frequent television broadcasts of theaward-winning cartoon film The Snowman.

In this suite for Violin and Piano, composer Howard Blake recreated the story in music based on the scenes from the film. The music includes the hit songWalking In The Air.

SKU: HL.14003914

8.25x11.75x0.058 inches.

Benedictus is a work of depth and feeling that some listeners claim 'out-Elgars Elgar.'Composer, conductor and educator Alexander MacKenzie is perhaps best known for his Choral works and his works inspired by Scottish melodies and themes, as in this well-known work Benedictus . Benedictus is extracted from Benedictus is a work of depth and feeling that some listeners claim 'out-Elgars Elgar.'Composer, conductor and educator Alexander MacKenzie is perhaps best known for his Choral works and his works inspired by Scottish melodies and themes, as in this well-known work Benedictus . Benedictus is extracted from Six Pieces for Violin and is dedicated to Lady Halle. During hislifetime - 1847 to 1935 - MacKenzie's programmatic Scottish-inflected work was extremely popular, and he is regarded as one of those who set the scene for the British musical renaissance of the late 19th century. and is dedicated to Lady Halle. During his lifetime - 1847 to 1935 - MacKenzie's programmatic Scottish-inflected work was extremely popular, and he is regarded as one of those who set the scene for the British musical renaissance of the late 19th century.

SKU: HL.49019054

ISBN 9790001147828.

On 11 August 2011 it is fifty years since the death of the composer Johanna Senfter from Oppenheim who actually was a trained violinist for she had studied with renowned violinists at the Hoch Conservatory in Frankfurt. No wonder that she dealt with the solo violin repertoire her whole life long. Concert works with orchestral accompaniment as well as chamber music works were the results of her compositional endeavours, and she attended to both the large and the small form. Apart from sonatas deeply rooted in the Romantic tradition, Johanna Senfter also wrote '5 Stucke' Op. 100 for violin with piano accompaniment. They are five miniatures which combine to form a kind of sonatina, while nevertheless being quite equal to its big sister, the sonata, as regards playing and compositional technique. A musically demanding, yet rewarding work by the Reger pupil.