VOCES8 Singles Series. Now winter nights by British composer and baritone Roderick Williams uses an evocative poem by Thomas Campion as its text, helping him to pinpoint the excitement of Christmas he felt as a child, and still holds on to. Written for SSAATTBB unaccompanied choir, Now winter nights is suitable for choirs wanting a Christmas/Holiday treat but which requires a medium to higher level of skill. Commissioned by VOCES8 for their LIVE From London festival in 2020.

The tradition of the Christmas tree in Western Europe dates back to a time long before any Christianization had taken place. During the severely cold winter nights so it was believed evil spirits tried to ?kill? nature. Needle-leaved trees were the only ones which kept their green colour throughout the year and therefore became symbols of immortality. These ?living? trees said to be the work of benign spirits were brought into people?s houses to ward off evil life-threatening powers. In the 14th century people first started to decorate Christmas trees. It was a pagan custom originated by the inhabitants of Alsace. This custom was taken over by the Church in thecourse of the 15th and 16th century. At first the decoration consisted mainly of edibles such as apples and wafers but later small presents were added. Legend has it that the reformer Martin Luther was the first person to decorate a Christmas tree with candles. The flickering candle flames were meant to create the image of a starry sky in which Christ?s apparition could be recognized. The German organ-player Ernst Anschütz from Leipzig was the first person to notate the song ?O Tannenbaum? the melody being a well-known folk song. Next to ?Stille Nacht? ?O Tannenbaum? is the most famous German Christmas song now known throughout the world. In the United States of America the melody of ?O Tannenbaum? has even been used in four States (among which the State of Maryland) for their State song. In David Well?s arrangement the song is first heard as many of us know it. After this introduction however it is transformed into a solid rock version and the beat has been changed. In the second part the familiar three-four time is back but here the rhythm is different from the original. After the richly ornamented rock beat the basic theme can be heard once again and the composition is concluded in a festive manner.

The style of the Habanera was born in Cuba a century ago as a descendant rhythm of the european country-dance known in the island since the XVII centuary. The country-dance was an English dance from England in the XVI century. Cuban musicians adapted new rhythmic fomulae in the original melodic structure influenciated by negro caribean tradition.Their songs were of varied styles but the nostalgia of many sailors that were in Cuba made of the Habanera the most popular rhythm. The songs were learnt using only ears and the lyrics using only memory. This is the reason why there are so many versions. The tavern’s song was a way to understand the long winter nights specially in small villages of difficult access like the ones in the Costa Brava.This book contains 20 of these songs for two part vocals.

Par ADAMS SALLY. Not sure what to play? Wish you had all your favourite tunes in one book? This Mini Fake Book for Trumpet has the answer with 101 much-loved songs and melodies from across the decades cleverly compiled in one bumper volume. Each book is packed with themes from film, TV and theatre, including Harry Potter, The Flintstones, Grease, Cabaret, Annie, Wizard of Oz as well as pop classics from Robbie Williams, George Michael, Kate Bush, Abba, Kylie Minogue. Jazz standards from the likes of Gershwin and Porter as well as well-known classical and folk tunes by JS Bach, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Schubert, Faure and many, many more! All the tunes have been carefully arranged by Sally Adams and Paul Harris to and covers grades 1- 5 level, in melody and chord symbol format. Ideal for buskers young and old, or as an alternative to traditional studies, for improvising or simply for fun, these really are the definitive compilations, with something for everyone!/ Recueil / Trompette

Finest single-volume edition includes authoritative scores of The Seasons, Op. 37; Album for the Young, Op. 39; 10 Characteristic Pieces, Op. 72; Dumka, Op. 59; Valse sentimentale, Op. 51, No. 6; 4 Pieces, Op. 40; Theme and Variations, Op. 19, No. 6; plus 5 early pieces. Content : Five early pieces Romance (Op. 5) Valse-scherzo ? Waltz-scherzo (Op. 7) Capriccio (Op. 8) Polka de salon (Op. 9, No. 2) Nocturne (Op. 10, No. 1) Thème original et variations ? Original theme and variations (Op. 19, No. 6) From Twelve Pieces (Op. 40) No. 2 Chanson triste ? Sad song 6. Chant sans paroles ? Song without words 9. Valse ? Waltz 10. Danse russe ? Russian dance Valse sentimentale ? Sentimental waltz (Op. 51, No. 6) Doumka (Scène rustique russe) ? Dumka (Russian village scene) (Op. 59) From Eighteen Characteristic Pieces (Op. 72) No. 1 Impromptu 2. Berceuse ? Lullaby 3. Tendres reproches ? Gentle reproaches 4. Danse caractéristique ? Characteristic dance 8. Dialogue 9. Un poco di Schumann ? A bit of Schumann 12. L'espiègle ? The rascal 13. Echo rustique ? Countryside echo 15. Un poco di Chopin ? A bit of Chopin 16. Valse à cinq temps ? Waltz in five-beat time Album for the Young (after Schumann) (Op. 39) [Restored to Tchaikovsky's original sequence] Note No. 1. Prière de matin ? Morning prayer 2. Le matin en hiver ? Winter morning 3. Maman ? Mama 4. Le petit cavalier ? The little horseman 5. Marches des soldats de bois ? Marches of the wooden soldiers 6. La nouvelle poupée ? The new doll 7. La poupée malade ? The sick doll 8. Enterrement de la poupée ? The doll's burial 9. Valse ? Waltz 10. Polka 11. Mazurka 12. Chanson russe ? Russian song 13. Le paysan prélude ? The peasant plays an introduction 14. Chanson populaire (Kamarinskaya) ? Folk Song 15. Chanson intalienne ? Italian song 16. Mélodie antique française ? Old French melody 17. Chanson allemande ? German song 18. Chanson napolitaine ? Neapolitan song 19. Conte de la vieille bonne ? The old maid-servant's tale 20. La sorciére (Baba-Yaga) ? The witch 21. Douce rêverie ? Sweet reverie 22. Chant de l'alouette ?Song of the lark 23. A l'église ? In church 24. L'orgue de barbarie ? The hurdy-gurdy The Seasons (Op. 37bis) Note and epigraphs 1. Janvier: Au coin du feu ? January By the fireside 2. Février: Carnaval ? February: Carnival 3. Mars: Chant de l'alouette ? March Song of the lark 4. Avril: Perce-neige ? April: Snowdrop 5. Mai: Les nuits de mai ? May: May nights [White nights] 6. Juin: Barcarolle ? June: Barcar 7. Juillet: Chant du faucheur ? July: The reaper's song 8. Août: La moisson ? August: The harvest 9. Septembre: La chasse ? September: The hunt 10. Octobre: Chant d'automne ? October: Autumn song 11. Novembre: En troïka ? November: In the troika 12. Decembre: Noël ? December: Christmas