SKU: PR.114419280

ISBN 9781491132357. UPC: 680160676125.

Inspired by Chinese tradition, this concerto-like dance suite includes: 1. Lion Dance, 2. YangKo, and 3. Muqam. Each movement draws from melodies and rhythms characteristic of various regions of China many centuries ago. CHINESE FOLK DANCE SUITE is available for violin with full orchestra, or as a recital work with piano.
Supported by a major commissioning award from the Serge Koussevitzky Music Foundation in the Library of Congress, Chinese Folk Dance Suite is written for solo violin and orchestra; it was premiered by The Women’s Philharmonic with violin soloist Terrie Baune, conducted by Apo Hsu, on March 10, 2001, at Yerba Buena Center For the Arts Theater in San Francisco.Inspired by various Chinese traditional folk dances, the suite has three movements:I. Lion Dance. Traditionally, people dance with richly decorated hand-made lions, accompanied by percussion ensemble, to celebrate happy occasions and major festivals throughout the country. In this composition, I use Chinese drum and other percussion instruments in the background, to form a dynamic and rhythmic texture responding to the solo part, which imitates the tunes played on the suona (traditional Chinese trumpet). The pitch materials came from the traditional Guangdong tune “Dragon Boat Racing,” and the Chaozhou tune “Lion Playing Ball.”II. YangKo. Originating in northern China, this is a major folk dance form in mass performance popularized in the country. In YangKo performance, people play rhythmic patterns on the drums hung around their waists while singing and dancing. In the second movement, I imagined a warm scene of YangKo dancing in distance. The solo violin plays a sweet and gracious melodic line while all members of the orchestra sing non-pitched syllables in different layers as the soft background, to imitate the percussion sound which produces the ever-going pulse.III. Muqam. This large-scale music and dance form, from the Uygur nationality in Xinjiang province, originated in the 15th century. My third movement use a 7/8 meter and the melodic style of Muqam music. The fiery dancing gesture culminates in the sustained climax section at the end of the work, after a colorful violin cadenza in both improvisational singing style and polyphonic writing with woven lines.

SKU: AP.36-60710007

ISBN 9798888521687. UPC: 676737816278. English.

In the years preceding World War I, Hungarian composer, pianist, and ethnomusicologist Béla Bartók (1881-1945) took trips to the Transylvanian region to explore the musical traditions of the Romanian population. Following a two-year depression caused by the war, as well as some professional setbacks, he returned to composition. The Romanian Folk Dances, Sz. 56, emerged in 1915, bearing a strong influence from his experiences as an ethnomusicologist. They comprise 6 dances, all based on folk tunes that Bartók had recorded and transcribed. In 1917, he arranged a version for full orchestra. Hungarian violinist and composer Zoltán Székely (1903-2001) transcribed these six short movements for violin and piano in 1926, which are offered here in this reprint edition. Movements: 1. Joc cu bâta (Stick Dance), 2. Brâul (Sash Dance), 3. Topogó / Pê-loc (In One Spot), 4. Bucsumí tánc / Buciumeana (Dance from Bucsum), 5. Poarga româneasca (Romanian Polka), 6. Aprózó / Maruntel (Fast Dance).

These products are currently being prepared by a new publisher. While many items are ready and will ship on time, some others may see delays of several months.

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.

SKU: AP.36-60710006

ISBN 9798888521649. UPC: 676737848804. English.

Isaac Albéniz (1860-1909) wrote his suite España (Espagna), Op. 165, also known as Seis Hojas de Album (Six Album Leaves) for piano in 1889, with the first performance taking place on June 7th of the following year, at the Steinway Hall in London. Each of the six movements recreates a traditional Spanish dance or evokes Spanish folk music. Famed American violinist, composer, and pedagogue Samuel Dushkin completed this arrangement for violin and piano that included three of the movements: 1. Malagueña, 2. Canción Catalan (or Capricho Catalan), 3. Tango. The middle movement is here presented alone. Reprint edition.

These products are currently being prepared by a new publisher. While many items are ready and will ship on time, some others may see delays of several months.