SKU: ST.H474

ISBN 9790220222900.

A Short Sonata is a work written at around Grade 8 standard for euphonium and piano. In each of the work's three movements, different qualities of the instrument are utilised and explored. In the first movement, an Allegro in 6/8 time, these qualities are the instrument's general agility, and its ability to play fast-moving melodies in a way that drives the music forward. Throughout, different ways of phrasing similar material are used to create interest and a varied sound. In the second, slow movement, the resonant and majestic way in which the euphonium can deliver lyrical melodic lines is explored. The movement is made up of four long phrases which peak dynamically at the third, giving room for interpretation and feeling. The third movement exploits the instrument's ability to play loudly and aggressively, using lots of accented notes, hairpin crescendos and quick double-tonguing.

A Short Sonata was the winner of the first Stainer & Bell Award for Brass Composition, held at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in Cardiff in May 2010.

SKU: CY.CC2769

As the title suggests the work dying and dancing for Euphonium solo and Piano accompaniment is in two parts, which are played without a pause between the two.

The first part, an adagio, is not necessarily meant to be evocative of the actual act of passing away, but more perhaps of the contemplation and reflection upon one's life as that time approaches, and particularly of sorrow over regret and disappointment. The unsettled mood of the music reflects this bitterness, and stands in contrast to the expansive peace of the grave, heard at the beginning and end of the adagio.

Dance, with ironic wit, the second part, is the other side of the same coin; perhaps humor of the gallows describes its spirit. At once fatalist and mocking, it brings to mind the words of the ancient teacher Koheleth, The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

I was pleased to compose dying and dancing in 2013 for Mark Kellogg, a superb Euphonium artist and my former trombone iProfessor at the Eastman School of Music.

SKU: CY.CC2722

The Chants du Rhin (Songs of the Rhine), a cycle of six pieces, based on poems by Joseph Mery, were written in 1865, and Bizet performed two of them on 16 April 1866 at a soiree of the Beaujolais Philharmonic Society. The songs are grouped symmetrically around La bohemienne as the central piece, framed by two meditatively yearning pieces (in E and D flat major) and two vividly exuberant ones (similarly in E and D flat major), with L'aurore serving as an introduction.

In this cycle Bizet takes up the theme of the gypsy girl which had already entered European music in the operas The Bohemian Girl by the Irish composer Michael William Balfe and Verdi's Il trovatore, as well as in Franz Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsodies for piano. Bizet will return to it one year later in La jolie fille de Perth and ten years later in Carmen. The fourth piece Les confidences shows similarities in tonality, structure and motifs to the middle part of the third movement of Chopin's Sonata in B minor.

This version includes parts in B-flat treble clef as well as bass clef.

SKU: CY.CC2711

Four Pieces from Opus 11 arranged for Euphonium and Piano by Ralph Sauer are originally from a group of seven pieces for solo Piano written between 1917 and 1918, except for movement 3, Il pleure dans mon coeur comme il pleut sur la ville (It rains in my heart like it rains in the city) from 1910.

The writing is very expressive and dark, possibly evoking the mood of Europe in the throes of great upheavals and the Great War.

This item is now available with parts in bass and treble clef.

About 12 minutes in length, these four movements are appropriate for advanced performers.

SKU: CY.CC2703

--Gabriel Faure's Opus 7 is a grouping of three songs written between 1870 and 1878 and then published together almost 20 years later.

The songs are:
--Apres une reve (After a Dream) - Faure's most famous song, text by Romain Bussine
--Hymne - also an ethereal love song, text by Charles Baudelaire
--Barcarol le - a flowing song in 6/8 time from a poem by Marc Monnier

--Mr. Sauer has beautifully arranged these songs for advanced performers and provided English translations of the lyrics for better understanding of the spirit of each song.

--Length of the three song set is about 7 minutes.

SKU: CY.CC2879

The Trombone/Euphonium solos of Gardell Simons have been sadly forgotten over the years. Atlantic Zephyrs is the only one known to most. Gregory Cox has compiled five of them in a new collection:
Atlantic Zephyrs
The Gondolier
Polka Caprice
The Volunteer
The Weldon Polka
The solos are about 5 minutes in length each and are appropriate for Intermediate level and above (range goes up to high C). They are light and delightful, harking back to the turn-of-the last century in style.
Cherry Classics is pleased to have brought them back to life, set in their original format in the Vintage Brass Collection.

SKU: CY.CC2883

Schumann's Three Romances for Euphonium & Piano, Opus 94, are an example of the highest level of poetic lyricism in the Romantic style. Originally for Oboe, Ralph Sauer has done a superb job in transcribing these three movements of about 12 minutes in length total. For moderately advanced performers, this work can be a major piece on your recital or concert.

Parts are supplied for bass and treble clef readers.

SKU: CY.CC2745

Impromptu is a piano work which Dvorak wrote in 1883 at the behest his friend Vaclav Juda Novotny to be inserted as a supplement into his music magazine. It has an A-B-A form containing some very beautiful melodies and much expression.

The piece was forgotten and considered lost but then showed up decades later in a private collection.

The music is about 6 minutes in duration and is appropriate for advanced performers.

SKU: CY.CC2633

Gabriel Pierne was a composer and conductor who studied with Franck and Massenet. His music is typically in the French style, exhibiting charm, clear technique and beauty of melodic line.

The Three Pieces are titled:
1. Serenade, Opus 7; 2. Piece in F minor; 3. March of the Tin Soldiers.

This suite is suitable for advanced performers and will add a lovely charm to your recital or concert.

Mr. Sauer has produced a very fine suite made up of exquisite gems from Monsieur Piernes pen.

SKU: CY.CC2443

Satie's strange but beautiful pieces were composed in the 1890's and were notated without barlines or time signatures. They consist of mysterious, hypnotic melodies supported by simple chord structures and are full of cryptic comments such as counsel yourself carefully and be clairvoyant. There are few restictions on interpretation. Mr. Sauer's beautiful arrangements of these six short works total about 15 minutes in length and are suitable for advanced performers.

SKU: CY.CC2545

Granados was a Spanish composer whose music had the unique style of his homeland burned into his soul. He was also a very talented painter in the style of Goya.

The Two Dances, 1. Oriental and 2. Fandango are taken from the 12 danzas espanolas, volume I from 1890, for Piano.

Mr. Sauer has brilliantly taken the solo Piano part and divided it between solo Euphnium and Piano.

Euphonium performers will enjoy working on this style of Spanish Nationalist music of which there is none in the solo repertoire.

The Two Dances (in tenor clef) are about 6 1/2 minutes in length and can be performed by advanced musicians.

The mp3 sample is an excerpt of the Bass Trombone version taken from a live performance at the 2012 Academy of the West Festival performed by David Hagee and Luis Ortiz, Pianist.