SKU: CF.FAS108F

ISBN 9781491151761. UPC: 680160909261. 9 x 12 inches.

Annie's Gone Home, composed in the style of a spiritual, was written as a tribute to composer Bud Woodruff's mother. The tune is built on phrases of easily understandable material, but the poignant nature of the piece is marked with profundity. From the subtle bass solo to the emotional high points, the piece is inspired by this strong woman in the life of the composer.

Annies Gone Home is a tribute to my Mother, Annette Fenner Hains (19232017). Her siblings and cousins always called her Annie. She loved music, and her influence was the primary inspiration for me to go into music. Her tastes were wildly diverse, loving everything from symphonic music to Country/Western, to various styles of folk music, to pop, to marches, but she had a very tender spot for hymns and spirituals.

While it is easy to interpret grief in this music, and its presence is undeniable, it is really intended more as a song of the ultimate triumph of goodness. In her wisdom, she was able to capture deep thoughts within simple phrases, which I have also tried to capture. Her life was one of frequent struggles, yet she was inspiring to many. She emerged from every difficulty, never unscathed, but always victorious, with clear eyes and head held high, until her last battle, which brought about her greatest victory. This sentiment is what I tried to capture. If too slow a tempo is taken, that feeling is lost and a sense of grief takes over. That may be what a conductor wants to convey, but is not what I intended.

Annieas Gone HomeA is a tribute to my Mother, Annette Fenner Hains (1923a2017). Her siblings and cousins always called her aAnnie.a She loved music, and her influence was the primary inspiration for me to go into music. Her tastes were wildly diverse, loving everything from symphonic music to Country/Western, to various styles of folk music, to pop, to marches, but she had a very tender spot for hymns and spirituals.

While it is easy to interpret grief in this music, and its presence is undeniable, it is really intended more as a song of the ultimate triumph of goodness. In her wisdom, she was able to capture deep thoughts within simple phrases, which I have also tried to capture. Her life was one of frequent struggles, yet she was inspiring to many. She emerged from every difficulty, never unscathed, but always victorious, with clear eyes and head held high, until her last battle, which brought about her greatest victory. This sentiment is what I tried to capture. If too slow a tempo is taken, that feeling is lost and a sense of grief takes over. That may be what a conductor wants to convey, but is not what I intended.

Annieas Gone HomeA is a tribute to my Mother, Annette Fenner Hains (1923a2017). Her siblings and cousins always called her aAnnie.a She loved music, and her influence was the primary inspiration for me to go into music. Her tastes were wildly diverse, loving everything from symphonic music to Country/Western, to various styles of folk music, to pop, to marches, but she had a very tender spot for hymns and spirituals.

While it is easy to interpret grief in this music, and its presence is undeniable, it is really intended more as a song of the ultimate triumph of goodness. In her wisdom, she was able to capture deep thoughts within simple phrases, which I have also tried to capture. Her life was one of frequent struggles, yet she was inspiring to many. She emerged from every difficulty, never unscathed, but always victorious, with clear eyes and head held high, until her last battle, which brought about her greatest victory. This sentiment is what I tried to capture. If too slow a tempo is taken, that feeling is lost and a sense of grief takes over. That may be what a conductor wants to convey, but is not what I intended.

Annie's Gone Home is a tribute to my Mother, Annette Fenner Hains (1923-2017). Her siblings and cousins always called her Annie. She loved music, and her influence was the primary inspiration for me to go into music. Her tastes were wildly diverse, loving everything from symphonic music to Country/Western, to various styles of folk music, to pop, to marches, but she had a very tender spot for hymns and spirituals.

While it is easy to interpret grief in this music, and its presence is undeniable, it is really intended more as a song of the ultimate triumph of goodness. In her wisdom, she was able to capture deep thoughts within simple phrases, which I have also tried to capture. Her life was one of frequent struggles, yet she was inspiring to many. She emerged from every difficulty, never unscathed, but always victorious, with clear eyes and head held high, until her last battle, which brought about her greatest victory. This sentiment is what I tried to capture. If too slow a tempo is taken, that feeling is lost and a sense of grief takes over. That may be what a conductor wants to convey, but is not what I intended.

SKU: CF.CM9585

ISBN 9781491154076. UPC: 680160912575. 6.875 x 10.5 inches. Key: G major. English. Original.

Good friends see the best in us. They tend to downplay our faults while applauding our strengths. In short, they encourage us to be the best we can be, maybe even a little more. The text of Paint Me was born out of the desire to be that person my best friend thinks I am. To Mary Jo, my sister and best friend. May I really be that person you see and love. In setting the text of Paint Me to music, I tried to let the cadence of the words dictate the rhythm of the music. Use rubato, word stress and syllabic stress to enhance this. Remember, no two eighth notes are alike, so dont be afraid to let the interior part of a phrase move along, while relaxing the beginning and ending. I would recommend a straight tone as opposed to vibrato for the held notes, since the accompaniment plays around with other harmonies while choral chords are being held. Diction is so important in this song. You have a great opportunity to paint the words, as well as making every idea understood. Enjoy adding the color and shading to make this piece of art your own.
Good friends see the best in us. They tend to downplay our faults while applauding our strengths. In short, they encourage us to be the best we can be, maybe even a little more. The text of Paint MeA was born out of the desire to be that person my best friend thinks I am. To Mary Jo, my sister and best friend. May I really be that person you see and love. In setting the text of Paint Me to music, I tried to let the cadence of the words dictate the rhythm of the music. Use rubato, word stress and syllabic stress to enhance this. Remember, no two eighth notes are alike, so donat be afraid to let the interior part of a phrase move along, while relaxing the beginning and ending. I would recommend a straight tone as opposed to vibrato for the held notes, since the accompaniment plays around with other harmonies while choral chords are being held. Diction is so important in this song. You have a great opportunity to apainta the words, as well as making every idea understood. Enjoy adding the color and shading to make this piece of art your own.
Good friends see the best in us. They tend to downplay our faults while applauding our strengths. In short, they encourage us to be the best we can be, maybe even a little more. The text of Paint Me was born out of the desire to be that person my best friend thinks I am. To Mary Jo, my sister and best friend. May I really be that person you see and love. In setting the text of Paint Me to music, I tried to let the cadence of the words dictate the rhythm of the music. Use rubato, word stress and syllabic stress to enhance this. Remember, no two eighth notes are alike, so don't be afraid to let the interior part of a phrase move along, while relaxing the beginning and ending. I would recommend a straight tone as opposed to vibrato for the held notes, since the accompaniment plays around with other harmonies while choral chords are being held. Diction is so important in this song. You have a great opportunity to paint the words, as well as making every idea understood. Enjoy adding the color and shading to make this piece of art your own.
Good friends see the best in us. They tend to downplay our faults while applauding our strengths. In short, they encourage us to be the best we can be, maybe even a little more. The text of Paint Me was born out of the desire to be that person my best friend thinks I am. To Mary Jo, my sister and best friend. May I really be that person you see and love. In setting the text of Paint Me to music, I tried to let the cadence of the words dictate the rhythm of the music. Use rubato, word stress and syllabic stress to enhance this. Remember, no two eighth notes are alike, so don't be afraid to let the interior part of a phrase move along, while relaxing the beginning and ending. I would recommend a straight tone as opposed to vibrato for the held notes, since the accompaniment plays around with other harmonies while choral chords are being held. Diction is so important in this song. You have a great opportunity to paint the words, as well as making every idea understood. Enjoy adding the color and shading to make this piece of art your own.
Good friends see the best in us. They tend to downplay our faults while applauding our strengths. In short, they encourage us to be the best we can be, maybe even a little more. The text of Paint Me was born out of the desire to be that person my best friend thinks I am.To Mary Jo, my sister and best friend. May I really be that person you see and love.In setting the text of Paint Me to music, I tried to let the cadence of the words dictate the rhythm of the music. Use rubato, word stress and syllabic stress to enhance this. Remember, no two eighth notes are alike, so don’t be afraid to let the interior part of a phrase move along, while relaxing the beginning and ending. I would recommend a straight tone as opposed to vibrato for the held notes, since the accompaniment plays around with other harmonies while choral chords are being held. Diction is so important in this song. You have a great opportunity to “paint” the words, as well as making every idea understood.Enjoy adding the color and shading to make this piece of art your own.

SKU: HL.14042920

ISBN 9788759814185. 9.5x14.25x0.107 inches. International (more than one language).

Programme Note My &rsquo,6 Pieces for horn, violin and piano&rsquo, was written in 1984 as a commission from the Danish Radio for a concert where Ligeti&rsquo,s Horn Trio should receive its Danish premiere played by Danish musicians. My trio is based on my work &rsquo,Studies for Piano&rsquo,. While I wrote these studies I tried to &rsquo,conjure up&rsquo, instrumental parts inside the piano movement. When I received the commission for a horn trio I turned to six of the studies and deepened them by &rsquo,screening them&rsquo, so that their parts and moods appeared in a clearer way. Furthermore I changed the order of the movements so a new unity appeared, beginning with asteadyly hesitating &rsquo,Serenade&rsquo, in slow-motion followed by the &rsquo,Arabesque&rsquo, which hardly gets started before it stops. Then &rsquo,Blues&rsquo,, a melancholy melody and &rsquo,Marcia Funebre&rsquo,, like a fossilized picture with a dramatic threatening outburst ending with a quiet but majestic melody in violin and horn, a melody that disappears in the chords of the piano. Before the last movement &rsquo,For the Children&rsquo, is a large &rsquo,Scherzo misterioso&rsquo,. Hans Abrahamsen

Six Pieces for Horn, Violin and Piano by Hans Abrahamsen.

Programme Note 

My ’6 Pieces for horn, violin and piano’ was written in 1984 as a commission from the Danish Radio for a concert where Ligeti’s Horn Trio should receive its Danish premiere played by Danish musicians. My trio is based on my work ’Studies for Piano’. While I wrote these studies I tried to ’conjure up’ instrumental parts inside the piano movement. When I received the commission for a horn trio I turned to six of the studies and deepened them by ’screening them’ so that their partsand moods appeared in a clearer way. Furthermore I changed the order of the movements so a new unity appeared, beginning with a steadyly hesitating ’Serenade’ in slow-motion followed by the ’Arabesque’ which hardly gets started before it stops. Then ’Blues’, a melancholy melody and ’Marcia Funebre’, like a fossilized picture with a dramatic threatening outburst ending with a quiet but majestic melody in violin and horn, a melody that disappears in the chords of the piano. Before the last movement ’For the Children’ is a large ’Scherzo misterioso’.

Hans Abrahamsen

SKU: CF.CPS226

ISBN 9781491152522. UPC: 680160910021.

Inspired by the memory of an influential music educator, Carol Brittin Chambers has woven a multitude of grooves, colors, and uplifting themes into To Create a Voice. Chambers has attempted to convey distinct moods and emotions that this educator tried to instill in his students. In honor of this dynamic teacher, you will hear Hot Cross Buns cleverly placed throughout the composition.
To Create a Voice was commissioned by the Valley Concert Band in Stockton, California. The piece premiered in October 2017, in memory and celebration of Chris Anderson, a local musician and educator.When writing this piece, I tried to convey certain moods and emotions throughout: soulful at the beginning with calm woodwind chords and solo trombone; increased energy throughout the various sections of the piece; exploration of different grooves and colors; an uplifting, emotional ending that leaves the listener with a sense of how positive and loving Chris was.This piece is largely inspired by a specific quote from Chris:Most people would consider the sounds students first make on their instruments to be cringe-worthy, but to me that’s music to my ears, because that’s the first time students put a voice to their instrument. Over time those voices become stronger; they become clear, more confident, and get to a point where they use those voices to communicate with each other, and to their audiences.To relate to the first notes on the instrument idea, I used motifs based on the first notes most beginners ever play, do-re-mi, which are introduced at the beginning of the piece with the trombone solo, Chris’ instrument. During the section at m. 15, the brass introduce a chorale that I named Chris’ Theme while the woodwinds keep reminding us of do-re-mi. Later in the piece (mm. 71 and 79), I use these notes again, but in reverse, which becomes a reference to the first song most beginners learn, Hot Cross Buns. This section is also meant to portray Chris’ quirky and joking side. In mm. 75 and 83, Chris’ Theme presents itself again a couple of times in response to Hot Cross Buns.Toward the end, at the uplifting moment (m. 97), do-re-mi is heard again, but this time in harmony with mi-fa-sol. This represents the ultimate satisfaction we all feel as musicians when we have finally progressed enough to play in harmony with others. The half-time feeling in 3 at that moment also has significance, relating (rhythmically) to those important three notes again.I really hope you enjoy performing and listening to this piece as much as I have enjoyed creating it!

SKU: CF.CM9795

ISBN 9781491164662. UPC: 680160923571. Key: A major. English. Coty Raven Morris. Original.

The text for When I Grow Up first came to me while I was teaching in Houston, Texas. I noticed that my students were becoming more and more concerned about what steps they had to take as students to secure a future for themselves decades ahead. Young people are finding themselves having to make lifelong decisions at a time where they are still in a season of exploration and wonderment. I then asked myself, What happened to discovery through play and imagination?With the help of one of my former and forever choir students, Monica Juarez, we took my original text and created illustrations of a young Coty in New Orleans, Louisiana imagining, in real time, all of the things that she could be! It was important to me that the images were of real things that I had seen growing up every day.That we are limitless and that it's only in the pressures of growing up that we can lose our creativity, I hope this text allows both singers and conductor to let their imagination take the lead and shape the journey ahead!Sing with JOY!—Coty Occasionally, when I get to visit with young people, I’ll ask, Has anyone ever asked you want to be when you grow up? All the hands go up. Children say yes, and then proceed to tell me what they want to be when they grow up. So, then I ask a follow-up question, Why on earth do you have to wait until you’re a grown-up to be somebody?!When I first read through Coty’s text, I was so moved by how clear and beautiful that message of empowerment shines through:I want to live, and that begins now. I want to be happy. And I refuse to wait until I grow up.I also was struck by her imaginative use of the four classical elements—air, water, fire, and earth—to bring us on a journey of discovery and wonder.I’ve tried my best to, not so much set Coty’s words to a tune, as to go along with her on the journey and see what music would emerge. And I’m so happy you’ve joined us on the journey, too.Welcome!—Mark.

SKU: PR.114422360

ISBN 9781491133828. UPC: 680160683321. 9 x 12 inches.

Based on an Armenian troubadour song, I WILL NOT BE SAD IN THIS WORLD is a uniquely beautiful work for alto flute (or bass flute) accompanied by a pre-recorded audio track made purely from the composer’s own singing. The result is a fluid interplay between the live flute and the composer’s multi-tracked and processed vocal sonorities. The work was created for Marya Martin’s “Eight Visions” collection (published by Presser), and is now available as a single publication.
I will not be sad in this world is based on the song “Ashkharumes Akh Chim Kashil” by the legendary 18th-century Armenian troubadour Sayat Nova. The song is often played on the duduk, and your flute playing should respond to the ornamentation, intonation, and vibrato of traditional duduk playing.In playing this piece, you will want to be flexible with time: the 32nd notes are mostly notated grace notes coloring the following note, and can be compressed towards that next note for effect. Similarly, the meter should be downplayed: use the pre-recorded part to give you guideposts, and then shape your phrases quite freely around those guideposts.I strongly suggest that you listen to my demo recording of the piece, as it will give an indication of what I am looking for. I have not transcribed every note that I sang on the demo, and similarly, once you feel comfortable with the playing style, you can ornament the melody with some flexibility yourself. The notated turns are meant to indicate places where it is most natural to do some ornamentation.The piece can be played on either alto flute or bass flute. I am hoping for a certain vulnerability in your playing, so choose the flute that will help you most with that. If you are playing in a dry hall, you might consider slight amplification, not for volume, but to allow you to add reverb to your sound. It will then be easier to blend well with the tape part.Optionally, one (or even two) additional flutists may double the lines called “voice” that are part of the tape part. The additional player(s) should play more softly than the soloist, and get even softer as the piece progresses and the electronics take over.* * *Thanks to Marya Martin who commissioned the piece. Many thanks to my friend and colleague Margaret Lancaster, who tried out the piece for me and advised me about notation. Thanks also to the Civitella Ranieri Foundation who were my generous hosts while I was writing I will not be sad in this world.The audio accompaniment and the demo are available for free download from the “Additional Downloads” tab at www.presser.com/114-42236.

SKU: BT.9780713663440

ISBN 9780713663440. English.

This book contains 59 tried and tested songs about topics including the world, the seasons, being a friend and caring for animals. There are tuneful hymns and thought-provoking subjects, just what's needed to fill the musicslot in assembly or at Sunday school. Includes CD of backing tracks.

SKU: CN.S11284

Give the band a workout with this challenging composition. Subtle percussion used in unique scoring that features the entire band. Very accessible yet dramatic piece.

Though not without opportunities for displays of virtuosity, this work is not a concerto. In fact, Percussion Perspectives I is the first movement of a three-movement suite for wind orchestra which features percussion, although it stands on its own as a concert piece. However, unlike many percussion pieces, which tend to be lightweight in style, I have tried to provide a serious repertoire piece which happens to contain prominent parts for percussion instruments. When composing the piece I reversed my usual process of writing the music and then adding percussion parts to provide extra colour and reinforcement of rhythmic ideas. In this composition the ideas were conceived first for percussion and then translated into melody and harmony by the other instruments. In face there are several places in the score where this process is transparent, with the percussion expounding the ideas before they are taken up by the wind instruments. The leading roles are taken by timpani and side drum with a significant contribution from glockenspiel and xylophone. In addition to these major players a panoply of other percussion instruments are used ranging from agogos to vibraslap.