3-Part Mixed Choral (3-Part Mixed choir)

SKU: HL.1113576

Composed by Andrew Parr. Shawnee Press. Concert, Poetry. Octavo. Duration 135 seconds. Published by Shawnee Press (HL.1113576).

ISBN 9781705179420. UPC: 196288104889. 6.75x10.5x0.029 inches.

This Wilcox poem mysteriously describes, like a riddle, a locomotive as if it's a living being of flesh and blood. Parr's setting is perfect to create and hold interest of young singers using a minor key, dynamic contrast, and interesting, rhythmic writing. A solid teaching and performance piece for any time of year.

Choral (SATB)

SKU: HL.1311456

Composed by Mark Sirett. Hinshaw Music. Christian, General Worship, Sacred. Octavo. Hinshaw Music #HMC2711. Published by Hinshaw Music (HL.1311456).

UPC: 196288177326. 6.75x10.5x0.029 inches.

Written for a festival featuring the award-winning Bach Children's Choir of Toronto (directed by Linda Beaupré) and the Amabile Young Men's Choir of London, Ontario (directed by Carol Beynon), the opening verse of this evocative text from the Philippines marvels at the beauty of the universe: the stars, the deep blue ocean, and the green forest. The reflective middle section highlights the profound connection humans share with all living creatures. The joyful conclusion reminds us of the gift of freedom - a blessing that emanates from within each one of us, and made more powerful in unity with our brothers and sisters. Suitable for high school, collegiate, and community choirs.

Performed by Chris Rice. For piano. Format: piano solo songbook. Contemporary christian. 72 pages. 9x12 inches. Published by Word Music.

Chamber Music Bass Clarinet, Bassoon, Clarinet, English Horn, Oboe, alto Saxophone, soprano Saxophone

SKU: PR.11441998S

Composed by Stacy Garrop. Sws. Full score. 32 pages. Duration 16 minutes. Theodore Presser Company #114-41998S. Published by Theodore Presser Company (PR.11441998S).

UPC: 680160681730. 9 x 12 inches.

The ancient Egyptian empire began around 3100 B.C. and continued for over 3000 years until Alexander the Great conquered the country in 332 B.C. Over the centuries, the Egyptian empire grew and flourished into a highly developed society. They invented hieroglyphics, built towering pyramids (including the Great Pyramid of Giza, the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the World), and the created many household items we still use today, including toothbrushes, toothpaste, eyeliner, black ink, and the forerunner of modern-day paper. Included among their achievements were a series of highly developed funerary practices and beliefs in the Afterlife. As the average lifespan of an Egyptian hovered around 30 years, living past the death of oneAs physical body was a legitimate concern. Egyptians believed that upon death, their souls would undertake a harrowing journey through the Netherworld. If they survived the horrific creatures and arduous trials that awaited them, then their souls would be reunified with their bodies (hence the need to preserve the body through mummification) and live forever in a perfect version of the life they had lived in Egypt. To achieve this, Egyptians devised around 200 magical spells and incantations to aid souls on the path to the Afterlife. These spells are collectively called The Book of the Dead. Particular spells would be chosen by the family of the deceased and inscribed on the tombAs walls and scrolls of papyrus, as well as on a stone scarab placed over the deceasedAs heart. Subsequent collections of spells and mortuary texts, such as The Book of Gates, assisted a soul in navigating the twelve stages of the Netherworld. Not only did these spells protect and guide the soul on this dangerous path, but they also served as a safeguard against any unbecoming behavior an Egyptian did while alive. For instance, if a person had robbed another while alive, there was a spell that would prevent the soulAs heart from revealing the truth when in the Hall of Judgment. Rites for the Afterlife follows the path of a soul to the Afterlife. In Inscriptions from the Book of the Dead (movement 1), the soul leaves the body and begins the journey, protected by spells and incantations written on the tombAs walls. In Passage though the Netherworld (movement 2), the soul is now on a funerary barque, being towed through the Netherworld by four of the regionAs inhabitants. We hear the soul slowly chanting incantations as the barque encounters demons, serpents, crocodiles, lakes of fire, and other terrors. The soul arrives at The Hall of Judgment in movement 3. Standing before forty-two divine judges, the soul addresses each by name and gives a A!negative confessionA(r) connected to each judge (i.e. A!I did not rob,A(r) A!I did not do violence,A(r) and so on). Afterwards, the soulAs heart is put on a scale to be weighed against a feather of MaAat, the goddess of truth. If the heart weighs more than the feather, it will be eaten by Ammut, a hideous creature that lies in wait below the scale, and the soul will die a second and permanent death (this was the worst fear of the Egyptians). But if the heart is in balance with the feather, the soul proceeds onward. The final stage of the journey is the arrival at The Field of Reeds (movement 4), which is a perfect mirror image of the soulAs life in ancient Egypt. The soul reunites with deceased family members, makes sacrifices to the Egyptian gods and goddess, harvests crops from plentiful fields of wheat under a brilliant blue sky, and lives forever next to the abundant and nourishing waters of the Nile. Rites for the Afterlife was commissioned by the Barlow Endowment on behalf of the Akropolis Reed Quintet, Calefax Reed Quintet, and the Brigham Young University Reed Quintet. -S.G.

Clarinet and Piano

SKU: ST.H488

Composed by Christopher Maxim. Wind & brass music. Standard: Advanced. Score and part. Stainer & Bell Ltd. #H488. Published by Stainer & Bell Ltd. (ST.H488).

ISBN 9790220224560.

Though much to be feared, dragons by definition are rarely encountered, living at the furthest corners of the known world, or further even than that. As Bilbo Baggins discovered, to go in search of one can be an epic journey; and though Christopher Maxim, composer of the popular Toccata Nuptiale for organ, does not reveal whether Smaug, or Fafner, or the dragon slain by Saint George, is the particular beast in view, Here be Dragons! has the dramatic atmosphere of an adventure to remote and mythical places. Darkly chromatic roulades for clarinet, perhaps the creature's fiery breath, set the scene for an exciting duet on a gripping theme that stalks through the music in a variety of menacing variations, including a dragonish fugue. In the energetic arpeggios and trills that embellish the tune there is much for players of around Grade 8 standard to relish, in a showpiece that will undoubtedly lend enchantment to any concert.

The world premiere can be enjoyed on YouTube.

Symphonic Band - Grade 5 - Score and Parts. Arranged by Franco Cesarini. De Haske Concert Band Full Set. Size 9x12 inches. Published by DeHaske Publications.

By Rose. For keyboard/instruments. Reformation; Praise; General. Level: Easy-Moderately Easy. Published by Concordia Publishing House.

Arranged by Lloyd Larson. For piano. Book only. Published by Lorenz Publishing Company

Music for Blended Worship. Piano/Vocal/Chords Songbook (Arrangements for piano and voice with guitar chords). Size 9x12 inches. 146 pages. Published by Hal Leonard.

Composed by Faye Lopez. Sacred. SoundForth #70/2040SF. Published by SoundForth (S2.70-2040SF).

Chamber Music Clarinet, Flute, Narrator, Percussion, Trumpet, Violoncello, soprano voice

SKU: PR.161000820

A Musical Fable for Children. Composed by Dan Welcher. Original story by Santiago Vaquera-Vasquez; Lyrics by Dan Welcher. Premiered by faculty from Texas A&M Kingsville, Kingsville, TX. Folk. Set of Score and Parts. With Standard notation. Composed July 30 2012. 51+30+12+12+12+16+20 pages. Duration 20 minutes. Theodore Presser Company #161-00082. Published by Theodore Presser Company (PR.161000820).

UPC: 680160610822. 9 x 12 inches. Text: Santiago Vaquera-Vasquez; Dan Welcher. Santiago Vaquera-Vasquez, Dan Welcher. Original story by Santiago Vaquera-Vasquez; Lyrics by Dan Welcher.

Commissioned for the Kingsville (TX) Independent School District and its thriving music department, Welcher has created A Musical Fable for Children, based upon a story by Santiago Vaquera-Vasquez. A narrator tells the tale of two children on opposite sides of the border and the magical creatures who allowed them to see as the other sees. Welcher uses musical themes and instruments to help identify the characters for the audience. The musical play was performed at the Kingsville campus, as well as six other elementary schools in the district.
The Need to See is a theater piece for children, featuring a narrator/singer and five instrumentalists. Designed to show children (aged 8-10) a fable about acceptance and diversity, the work also exposes children to live musicians in a highly portable, suitable-for-classroom theater piece.The narrator/singer begins by teaching the children a well-known Mexican folk tune, “Naranja Dulce”, which leads directly into the story.  The fable concerns two figures from folklore: Don Conejo (the rabbit god) and Don Coyote (the coyote god).  These two trickster/adversaries take on the task of helping Isabella, an American girl, and Tomàs, a Mexican boy, understand each other’s culture—by means of a trick.  The two children, living on opposite sides of the Rio Grande in Texas and Mexico, have been taught to fear el otro lado (“the other side”), and to stay away from the river.  This causes both children to be nervous and afraid, and Conejo and Coyote decide to do something about that.Borrowing from another well-known tale, writer Santiago Vaquera-Vàsquez has the two trickster-deities perform a bit of hocus-pocus, exchanging the two childrens’ eyes for one day, so they can “see” through someone else’s perspective.  The result, told in two languages with narration, song, and constant music, allows the children in the audience to participate as singers, and also as spectators to a tale that has relevance and contemporary meaning.   Employing three familiar songs from Latin American culture (“Naranja Dulce”, “Tengo una Muñeca”, and “Mambru se fue a la Guerra”), the piece takes its audience on a journey both familiar and new—and ultimately enlightening.

30 Creative Intonations on Well-Known Hymntunes. By Michael Young. Instrumental. Sacred. Level: Easy. 20 pages. Published by GIA Publications.