Chamber Music String Quartet SKU: PR.114405050 Composed by John Downey. S...(+)
Chamber Music String
Quartet
SKU:
PR.114405050
Composed
by John Downey. Set of
Score and Parts. With
Standard notation. 53
pages. Duration 25
minutes. Theodore Presser
Company #114-40505.
Published by Theodore
Presser Company
(PR.114405050).
UPC:
680160008377. 11 x 14
inches.
Although
structurally it
subdivides into five
movements, the entire
quartet emerges as one
vast continuum. There are
no formal breaks between
movements. However,
certain musical signposts
can be discerned,
associated with each of
the movements'
terminations and new
beginnings. The opening
movement, The Nostalgia
of Clanging Bell
Sonorities, begins
floating on recurrent Bbs
whose soft rhythmic flow
slowly puts into motion
strong undercurrents
suggestive of the latent
power of water... After
several suggestions of
tolling bells, the
movement gradually fades
into hushed tones of
veiled and very distant
sonorities. It uses a
unique efffect, for the
first time in a musical
context, conveyed through
the use of extra heavy
practice mutes. The
second movement, The
Spill of Water ,
disengages itself from
the first through its
distinct contrast in
tempo. Water moves fast,
and when it splashes, it
tends to run wildly. In
this case, it happens to
be bubbly water that
gushes forth bodly...
smashing across rocky
shorlines. So, too, the
music attempts to conjure
such moods. At the end of
this movement, a cello
cadenza emerges,
introducing an
introspective type of
melodicism. The third
movement, The Poignancy
of Memory, contains many
silences as it tries to
convey memory through
fragmented remembrances
much like often occur in
our dream state.
Progressing through
several slowly building
images, it gradually
works itself into
juxtaposition of musical
images. Towards the
movement's end, high
harmonics are sounding in
all four instruments
while left hand pizzicato
notes in the cello pluch
the last remembrances of
this central core. Almost
imperceptibly, the viola
assumes leadership as it
dissolves into: The
fourth movement, The
Fluidity of Motion, which
has mostly the viola, but
also the cello,
articulating lyrical
statements against the
sheets of sound conjured
up by the two violins
playing a flood of
swirling figures, evokes
a kind of static motion
in spae. Here, the
virtually imperceptible
manner in which this
hushed whisper continues
incessantly, can suggest
the potential fluidity
with which movement may
inch forward... Later
into the fourth movement
, two fairly extended
solos by the second and
then the first violins,
lead to a kind of
spontaneous dialogue
among the four
instrumentalists.
Eventually, this musical
conversation gets caught
up in: The fifth
movement's The Rush of
Time, which opens with a
hushed flurry of speed,
precipitates the Finale.
It generates, at first
slowly, but then very
swiftly, whole shifts of
rhythmic fields that
initially seem to
conflict with one
another. Ultimately, this
use of 'psycho-rhythmics
contributes to an on-rush
of motion and time.
Rhythmic changes are, at
times, abruptly
precipitated with but
little or no preparation
creating a kind of
inevitability in forward
thrust, while the
movement rushes forward
with a feeling of gradual
and continuous
acceleration. It gathers
density as more and more
notes are piled
progressively upon
successive beats. The
attempt is to spark
tension and ignite
excitement by means of
frenetic confrontations
of dissimilitudes.
Ultimately - with the
help of time - these
polarities centrifically
spin out their own
destinies with their
accompanying fall-out and
own inevitable
resolutions.
Chamber Music String Quartet SKU: PR.11440505S Composed by John Downey. F...(+)
Chamber Music String
Quartet
SKU:
PR.11440505S
Composed
by John Downey. Full
score. With Standard
notation. 53 pages.
Duration 25 minutes.
Theodore Presser Company
#114-40505S. Published by
Theodore Presser Company
(PR.11440505S).
UPC:
680160008391. 11 x 14
inches.
Although
structurally it
subdivides into five
movements, the entire
quartet emerges as one
vast continuum. There are
no formal breaks between
movements. However,
certain musical signposts
can be discerned,
associated with each of
the movements'
terminations and new
beginnings. The opening
movement, The Nostalgia
of Clanging Bell
Sonorities, begins
floating on recurrent Bbs
whose soft rhythmic flow
slowly puts into motion
strong undercurrents
suggestive of the latent
power of water... After
several suggestions of
tolling bells, the
movement gradually fades
into hushed tones of
veiled and very distant
sonorities. It uses a
unique effect, for the
first time in a musical
context, conveyed through
the use of extra heavy
practice mutes. The
second movement, The
Spill of Water,
disengages itself from
the first through its
distinct contrast in
tempo. Water moves fast,
and when it splashes, it
tends to run wildly. In
this case, it happens to
be bubbly water that
gushes forth bodly...
smashing across rocky
shorelines. So, too, the
music attempts to conjure
such moods. At the end of
this movement, a cello
cadenza emerges,
introducing an
introspective type of
melodicism. The third
movement, The Poignancy
of Memory, contains many
silences as it tries to
convey memory through
fragmented remembrances
much like often occur in
our dream state.
Progressing through
several slowly building
images, it gradually
works itself into
juxtaposition of musical
images. Towards the
movement's end, high
harmonics are sounding in
all four instruments
while left hand pizzicato
notes in the cello pluck
the last remembrances of
this central core. Almost
imperceptibly, the viola
assumes leadership as it
dissolves into: The
fourth movement, The
Fluidity of Motion, which
has mostly the viola, but
also the cello,
articulating lyrical
statements against sheets
of sound conjured up by
the two violins playing a
flood of swirling
figures, evokes a kind of
static motion in space.
Here , the virtually
imperceptible manner in
which this hushed whisper
continues incessantly,
can suggest the potential
fluidity with which
movement may inch
forward... Later into the
fourth movement, two
fairly extended solos by
the second and then the
first violins, lead to a
kind of spontaneous
dialogue amont the four
instrumentalists.
Eventually, this musical
conversation gets caught
up in: The fifth
movement's The Rush of
Time, which opens with a
hushed flurry of speed,
precipitates the Finale.
It generates, at first
slowly, but then very
swiftly, whole shifts of
rhythmic fields that
initially seem to
conflict with one
another. Ultimately, this
use of psycho-rhythmics
contributes to an on-rush
seem of motion and time.
Rhythmic changes are, at
times, abruptly
precipitated with but
little or no preparation
creating a kind of
inevitability in forward
thrust, while the
movement rushes forward
with a feeling of gradual
and continuous
acceleration. It gathers
density as more and more
notes are piled
progressively upon
successive beats. The
attempt is to spark
tension and ignite
excitement by means of
frenetic confrontations
of dissimilitudes.
Ultimately - with the
help of time - these
polarities centrifically
spin out their own
destinies with their
accompanying fall-out and
own inevitable
resolutions.
Composed by Markus Miklos, Mathilde Giraud, Lajos Bardos. Collection. Secular. C...(+)
Composed by Markus
Miklos, Mathilde Giraud,
Lajos Bardos. Collection.
Secular. Choir part. 118
pages. Published by
Editions a Coeur Joie
(CJ.A135300071).
By Colin Mawby. Arranged by Colin Mawby. For Choir. Mixed voices (SATB). Sacred....(+)
By Colin Mawby. Arranged
by Colin Mawby. For
Choir. Mixed voices
(SATB). Sacred. Book.
Published by Kevin Mayhew
Publishers (U.K. Import).
Level: Multiple
Levels.
Piano and orchestra - difficult SKU: HL.49046544 For piano and orchest...(+)
Piano and orchestra -
difficult
SKU:
HL.49046544
For
piano and orchestra.
Composed by Gyorgy
Ligeti. This edition:
Saddle stitching. Sheet
music. Edition Schott.
Softcover. Composed
1985-1988. Duration 24'.
Schott Music #ED23178.
Published by Schott Music
(HL.49046544).
ISBN
9781705122655. UPC:
842819108726.
9.0x12.0x0.224
inches.
I composed
the Piano Concerto in two
stages: the first three
movements during the
years 1985-86, the next
two in 1987, the final
autograph of the last
movement was ready by
January, 1988. The
concerto is dedicated to
the American conductor
Mario di Bonaventura. The
markings of the movements
are the following: 1.
Vivace molto ritmico e
preciso 2. Lento e
deserto 3. Vivace
cantabile 4. Allegro
risoluto 5. Presto
luminoso.The first
performance of the
three-movement Concerto
was on October 23rd, 1986
in Graz. Mario di
Bonaventura conducted
while his brother,
Anthony di Bonaventura,
was the soloist. Two days
later the performance was
repeated in the Vienna
Konzerthaus. After
hearing the work twice, I
came to the conclusion
that the third movement
is not an adequate
finale; my feeling of
form demanded
continuation, a
supplement. That led to
the composing of the next
two movements. The
premiere of the whole
cycle took place on
February 29th, 1988, in
the Vienna Konzerthaus
with the same conductor
and the same pianist. The
orchestra consisted of
the following: flute,
oboe, clarinet, bassoon,
horn, trumpet, tenor
trombone, percussion and
strings. The flautist
also plays the piccoIo,
the clarinetist, the alto
ocarina. The percussion
is made up of diverse
instruments, which one
musician-virtuoso can
play. It is more
practical, however, if
two or three musicians
share the instruments.
Besides traditional
instruments the
percussion part calls
also for two simple wind
instruments: the swanee
whistle and the
harmonica. The string
instrument parts (two
violins, viola, cello and
doubles bass) can be
performed soloistic since
they do not contain
divisi. For balance,
however, the ensemble
playing is recommended,
for example 6-8 first
violins, 6-8 second, 4-6
violas, 4-6 cellos, 3-4
double basses. In the
Piano Concerto I realized
new concepts of harmony
and rhythm. The first
movement is entirely
written in bimetry:
simultaneously 12/8 and
4/4 (8/8). This relates
to the known triplet on a
doule relation and in
itself is nothing new.
Because, however, I
articulate 12 triola and
8 duola pulses, an
entangled, up till now
unheard kind of polymetry
is created. The rhythm is
additionally complicated
because of asymmetric
groupings inside two
speed layers, which means
accents are
asymmetrically
distributed. These
groups, as in the talea
technique, have a fixed,
continuously repeating
rhythmic structures of
varying lengths in speed
layers of 12/8 and 4/4.
This means that the
repeating pattern in the
12/8 level and the
pattern in the 4/4 level
do not coincide and
continuously give a
kaleidoscope of renewing
combinations. In our
perception we quickly
resign from following
particular rhythmical
successions and that what
is going on in time
appears for us as
something static,
resting. This music, if
it is played properly, in
the right tempo and with
the right accents inside
particular layers, after
a certain time 'rises, as
it were, as a plane after
taking off: the rhythmic
action, too complex to be
able to follow in detail,
begins flying. This
diffusion of individual
structures into a
different global
structure is one of my
basic compositional
concepts: from the end of
the fifties, from the
orchestral works
Apparitions and
Atmospheres I
continuously have been
looking for new ways of
resolving this basic
question. The harmony of
the first movement is
based on mixtures, hence
on the parallel leading
of voices. This technique
is used here in a rather
simple form; later in the
fourth movement it will
be considerably
developed. The second
movement (the only slow
one amongst five
movements) also has a
talea type of structure,
it is however much
simpler rhythmically,
because it contains only
one speed layer. The
melody is consisted in
the development of a
rigorous interval mode in
which two minor seconds
and one major second
alternate therefore nine
notes inside an octave.
This mode is transposed
into different degrees
and it also determines
the harmony of the
movement; however, in
closing episode in the
piano part there is a
combination of diatonics
(white keys) and
pentatonics (black keys)
led in brilliant,
sparkling quasimixtures,
while the orchestra
continues to play in the
nine tone mode. In this
movement I used isolated
sounds and extreme
registers (piccolo in a
very low register,
bassoon in a very high
register, canons played
by the swanee whistle,
the alto ocarina and
brass with a harmon-mute'
damper, cutting sound
combinations of the
piccolo, clarinet and
oboe in an extremely high
register, also
alternating of a
whistle-siren and
xylophone). The third
movement also has one
speed layer and because
of this it appears as
simpler than the first,
but actually the rhythm
is very complicated in a
different way here. Above
the uninterrupted, fast
and regular basic pulse,
thanks to the asymmetric
distribution of accents,
different types of
hemiolas and inherent
melodical patterns appear
(the term was coined by
Gerhard Kubik in relation
to central African
music). If this movement
is played with the
adequate speed and with
very clear accentuation,
illusory
rhythmic-melodical
figures appear. These
figures are not played
directly; they do not
appear in the score, but
exist only in our
perception as a result of
co-operation of different
voices. Already earlier I
had experimented with
illusory rhythmics,
namely in Poeme
symphonique for 100
metronomes (1962), in
Continuum for harpsichord
(1968), in Monument for
two pianos (1976), and
especially in the first
and sixth piano etude
Desordre and Automne a
Varsovie (1985). The
third movement of the
Piano Concerto is up to
now the clearest example
of illusory rhythmics and
illusory melody. In
intervallic and chordal
structure this movement
is based on alternation,
and also inter-relation
of various modal and
quasi-equidistant harmony
spaces. The tempered
twelve-part division of
the octave allows for
diatonical and other
modal interval
successions, which are
not equidistant, but are
based on the alternation
of major and minor
seconds in different
groups. The tempered
system also allows for
the use of the
anhemitonic pentatonic
scale (the black keys of
the piano). From
equidistant scales,
therefore interval
formations which are
based on the division of
an octave in equal
distances, the
twelve-tone tempered
system allows only
chromatics (only minor
seconds) and the six-tone
scale (the whole-tone:
only major seconds).
Moreover, the division of
the octave into four
parts only minor thirds)
and three parts (three
major thirds) is
possible. In several
music cultures different
equidistant divisions of
an octave are accepted,
for example, in the
Javanese slendro into
five parts, in Melanesia
into seven parts, popular
also in southeastern
Asia, and apart from
this, in southern Africa.
This does not mean an
exact equidistance: there
is a certain tolerance
for the inaccurateness of
the interval tuning.
These exotic for us,
Europeans, harmony and
melody have attracted me
for several years.
However I did not want to
re-tune the piano
(microtone deviations
appear in the concerto
only in a few places in
the horn and trombone
parts led in natural
tones). After the period
of experimenting, I got
to pseudo- or
quasiequidistant
intervals, which is
neither whole-tone nor
chromatic: in the
twelve-tone system, two
whole-tone scales are
possible, shifted a minor
second apart from each
other. Therefore, I
connect these two scales
(or sound resources), and
for example, places occur
where the melodies and
figurations in the piano
part are created from
both whole tone scales;
in one band one six-tone
sound resource is
utilized, and in the
other hand, the
complementary. In this
way whole-tonality and
chromaticism mutually
reduce themselves: a type
of deformed
equidistancism is formed,
strangely brilliant and
at the same time
slanting; illusory
harmony, indeed being
created inside the
tempered twelve-tone
system, but in sound
quality not belonging to
it anymore. The
appearance of such
slantedequidistant
harmony fields
alternating with modal
fields and based on
chords built on fifths
(mainly in the piano
part), complemented with
mixtures built on fifths
in the orchestra, gives
this movement an
individual, soft-metallic
colour (a metallic sound
resulting from
harmonics). The fourth
movement was meant to be
the central movement of
the Concerto. Its
melodc-rhythmic elements
(embryos or fragments of
motives) in themselves
are simple. The movement
also begins simply, with
a succession of
overlapping of these
elements in the mixture
type structures. Also
here a kaleidoscope is
created, due to a limited
number of these elements
- of these pebbles in the
kaleidoscope - which
continuously return in
augmentations and
diminutions. Step by
step, however, so that in
the beginning we cannot
hear it, a compiled
rhythmic organization of
the talea type gradually
comes into daylight,
based on the simultaneity
of two mutually shifted
to each other speed
layers (also triplet and
duoles, however, with
different asymmetric
structures than in the
first movement). While
longer rests are
gradually filled in with
motive fragments, we
slowly come to the
conclusion that we have
found ourselves inside a
rhythmic-melodical whirl:
without change in tempo,
only through increasing
the density of the
musical events, a
rotation is created in
the stream of successive
and compiled, augmented
and diminished motive
fragments, and increasing
the density suggests
acceleration. Thanks to
the periodical structure
of the composition,
always new but however of
the same (all the motivic
cells are similar to
earlier ones but none of
them are exactly
repeated; the general
structure is therefore
self-similar), an
impression is created of
a gigantic, indissoluble
network. Also, rhythmic
structures at first
hidden gradually begin to
emerge, two independent
speed layers with their
various internal
accentuations. This
great, self-similar whirl
in a very indirect way
relates to musical
associations, which came
to my mind while watching
the graphic projection of
the mathematical sets of
Julia and of Mandelbrot
made with the help of a
computer. I saw these
wonderful pictures of
fractal creations, made
by scientists from Brema,
Peitgen and Richter, for
the first time in 1984.
From that time they have
played a great role in my
musical concepts. This
does not mean, however,
that composing the fourth
movement I used
mathematical methods or
iterative calculus;
indeed, I did use
constructions which,
however, are not based on
mathematical thinking,
but are rather craftman's
constructions (in this
respect, my attitude
towards mathematics is
similar to that of the
graphic artist Maurits
Escher). I am concerned
rather with intuitional,
poetic, synesthetic
correspondence, not on
the scientific, but on
the poetic level of
thinking. The fifth, very
short Presto movement is
harmonically very simple,
but all the more
complicated in its
rhythmic structure: it is
based on the further
development of ''inherent
patterns of the third
movement. The
quasi-equidistance system
dominates harmonically
and melodically in this
movement, as in the
third, alternating with
harmonic fields, which
are based on the division
of the chromatic whole
into diatonics and
anhemitonic pentatonics.
Polyrhythms and harmonic
mixtures reach their
greatest density, and at
the same time this
movement is strikingly
light, enlightened with
very bright colours: at
first it seems chaotic,
but after listening to it
for a few times it is
easy to grasp its
content: many autonomous
but self-similar figures
which crossing
themselves. I present my
artistic credo in the
Piano Concerto: I
demonstrate my
independence from
criteria of the
traditional avantgarde,
as well as the
fashionable
postmodernism. Musical
illusions which I
consider to be also so
important are not a goal
in itself for me, but a
foundation for my
aesthetical attitude. I
prefer musical forms
which have a more
object-like than
processual character.
Music as frozen time, as
an object in imaginary
space evoked by music in
our imagination, as a
creation which really
develops in time, but in
imagination it exists
simultaneously in all its
moments. The spell of
time, the enduring its
passing by, closing it in
a moment of the present
is my main intention as a
composer. (Gyorgy
Ligeti).
Choral SATB choir, piano SKU: CF.CM9713 Composed by Jacob Narverud. 16 pa...(+)
Choral SATB choir, piano
SKU: CF.CM9713
Composed by Jacob
Narverud. 16 pages.
Duration 4:01. Carl
Fischer Music #CM9713.
Published by Carl Fischer
Music (CF.CM9713).
ISBN 9781491160084.
UPC: 680160918683. Key: G
major. English. Robert
Bode. Original.
The
piece was commissioned by
Kevin Scully, Director of
Creative Arts, for the
Port Washington School
District, New York, with
special thanks to the Ed
Foundation and HEARTS for
their unwavering support.
Performance Notes This
lighthearted piece is a
great way to bring
multiple choirs together
in harmony. It may be
sung by a single SATB
choir, though it is
intended to be performed
by multiple choirs of
varying age levels. Song
of the Sound was written
for an all-district
feeder festival piece for
combined elementary,
middle level, and high
school choirs. Here is a
suggested outline for
combining multiple
choirs: Rehearsal Letters
A to B: Elementary choir
only (two-part, Soprano,
Alto) Rehearsal Letter B:
add Middle Level Soprano,
Alto with Elementary
choir Rehearsal Letter C:
Middle Level choir only
Rehearsal Letter D: High
School choir only
Rehearsal Letter E to the
end: Everyone! Song of
the Sound: Running on the
beach, digging in the
sand, Seaweed in my toes,
bucket in my hand. When
I'm at the shore, way
above the rest, These are
all the things that I
love the best. Skipping
like a stone on the
water, diving deep in the
silvery foam, Swimming
far where the land cannot
hold us, where the
lighthouse calls us home.
Flying free above the
marshes, soaring high
above the sea, Where the
tern and cormorant and
plover call to lands we
cannot see.Come let us go
to the water, let us go
to the singing shore:
Where the gentle breezes
whisper and the mighty
breakers roar. We will
look to the shining
ocean, to the East, where
the new day dawned: We
will sing a song of the
edge of the world and the
waiting sky beyond. -Poem
by Robert Bode (Hope
Springs Retreat Center,
Ohio. August 2019) About
the Composer: Jacob
Narverud (b. 1986) is an
American composer,
arranger, and conductor.
Dr. Narverud is an active
guest Conductor/Clinician
for Choral Festivals and
All-State Choirs across
the country and is the
Founder/Artistic Director
of the Tallgrass Chamber
Choir, a professional
ensemble comprised of
musicians from across the
Great Plains. As a
sought-after composer,
Narverud has been
commissioned to write new
works for a variety of
choral ensembles and
organizations. Many of
his Editors' Choirs
compositions are
publisher Best Sellers
and are performed
worldwide by choirs of
all levels. Website:
www.jnarverud.com YouTube
& Spotify:
@jacobnarverud. The
piece was commissioned by
Kevin Scully, Director of
Creative Arts, for the
Port Washington School
District, New York, with
special thanks to the Ed
Foundation and HEARTS for
their unwavering
support.Performance
NotesThis lighthearted
piece is a great way to
bring multiple choirs
together in harmony. It
may be sung by a single
SATB choir, though it is
intended to be performed
by multiple choirs of
varying age levels. Song
of the Sound was written
for an all-district
feeder festival piece for
combined elementary,
middle level, and high
school choirs. Here is a
suggested outline for
combining multiple
choirs:Rehearsal Letters
AÂ to B: Elementary
choir only (two-part,
Soprano, Alto)Rehearsal
Letter B: add Middle
Level Soprano, Alto with
Elementary choirRehearsal
Letter C: Middle
Level choir onlyRehearsal
Letter D: High School
choir onlyRehearsal
Letter E to the end:
Everyone!Song of the
Sound:Running on the
beach, digging in the
sand,Seaweed in my toes,
bucket in my hand.When
I'm at the shore, way
above the rest,These are
all the things that I
love the
best. Skipping like a
stone on the water,
diving deep in the
silvery foam,Swimming far
where the land cannot
hold us, where the
lighthouse calls us
home.Flying free above
the marshes, soaring high
above the sea,Where the
tern and cormorant and
plover call to lands we
cannot see.Come let us go
to the water, let us go
to the singing
shore:Where the gentle
breezes whisper and the
mighty breakers roar.We
will look to the shining
ocean, to the East, where
the new day dawned:We
will sing a song of the
edge of the world and the
waiting sky beyond.-Poem
by Robert Bode (Hope
Springs Retreat Center,
Ohio. August 2019)About
the Composer:Jacob
Narverud (b. 1986) is an
American composer,
arranger, and conductor.
Dr. Narverud is an active
guest Conductor/Clinician
for Choral Festivals and
All-State Choirs across
the country and is the
Founder/Artistic Director
of the Tallgrass Chamber
Choir, a professional
ensemble comprised of
musicians from across the
Great Plains. As a
sought-after composer,
Narverud has been
commissioned to write new
works for a variety of
choral ensembles and
organizations. Many of
his Editors' Choirs
compositions are
publisher Best Sellers
and are performed
worldwide by choirs of
all levels. Website:
www.jnarverud.comÂ
YouTube & Spotify:
@jacobnarverud.
Composed
by Charles Thatcher.
Advent, Christmastide,
Lent, Eastertide,
Ordinary Time. Sacred. 64
pages. GIA Publications
#10314. Published by GIA
Publications
(GI.G-10314).
ISBN
7851471031413. English,
Latin. Text Source:
Antiphons tr. Charles
Thatcher, verses, The
Grail,
1963.
Entrance
Antiphons for the Church
Year contains thirty
antiphon texts from
the Graduale Simplex,
translated from Latin and
set to newly composed
music. The psalm verses
appointed for these
antiphons are taken from
the Grail translation
(1963). As with the
Responsorial Psalm of the
Mass, the assembly sings
the antiphon after its
intonation by the
cantor/choir, repeating
it after each verse of
the psalm. The number of
psalm verses which are
sung may vary according
to need. The singing of
the doxology, Glory to
the Father, while
recommended, is optional.
In several cases (e.g.,
Christmas and Easter),
the assembly sings a
refrain—a simple
acclamation in
Latin—and the
actual antiphon text is
sung by the cantor/choir.
The antiphon functions as
a first and final verse.
It is thought that
liturgical singing in the
early Church consisted in
part of such short
acclamatory phrases. Many
of the antiphons in this
collection are proper to
a specific Sunday,
solemnity, or feast. The
rest are seasonal in
nature and, like the
common Responsorial
Psalms of the Lectionary,
may be chosen according
to what seems best for
the occasion. The
antiphons of Christmas
Day and Easter Sunday
could be used at daily
Masses during their
octaves. Notations in the
scores of some antiphons
suggest alternate
occasions when they are
appropriate. Regarding
performance, these
compositions were
conceived with
flexibility in mind.
Assembly participation
and instrumental
accompaniment are
assumed. SATB choral
singing is effective, but
not necessary. Discrete
use of descants where
provided can lend an air
of festivity. Psalm
verses might be sung by
an entire choir, by a
small group or cantor, or
a combination of
both.
366 More Great Songs for Better Living. Arranged by Jim Beloff, Liz Belof...(+)
366 More Great Songs
for Better Living.
Arranged by Jim Beloff,
Liz Beloff. Fake Book.
Country, Pop,
Standards. Softcover. 416
pages. Published by Hal
Leonard (HL.212971).
Chamber Music Piano SKU: PR.110418370 Composed by Charles Ives. Arranged ...(+)
Chamber Music Piano
SKU: PR.110418370
Composed by Charles Ives.
Arranged by Danny Holt.
Performance Score. 20
pages. Duration 8
minutes. Theodore Presser
Company #110-41837.
Published by Theodore
Presser Company
(PR.110418370).
ISBN
9781491135075. UPC:
680160686247.
Compo
sed as an organ solo by
the 17-year-old Ives for
his own performance
purposes, the beloved
Variations on America is
a treat for any occasion,
whether a holiday
concert, a serious
recital, or other special
event. Danny
Holt’s
transcription for Piano,
Four Hands adds a
dazzling new option to
play at home or on stage,
taking best advantage of
Ives’ tremendous
contrasts in color,
dynamics, and
texture. Composed when
Charles Ives was a
teenager, Variations on
“America†is
both a convenient
introduction to
Ives’ body of
work, and an early
example of his
iconoclastic musical
voice and creative
genius. Just a few years
after composing this
piece, Ives would leave
home to study music at
Yale. But until then he
had been taught by his
father, George (who had
been a bandmaster in the
Civil War). George
subjected the young Ives
to experiments such as
singing a song in one key
while being accompanied
in another, or arranging
for two marching bands to
converge on a town
center, with the
resulting cacophony that
ensued.The Variations
exemplifies an early
period of experimentation
in Ives’ work,
spurred on by the unusual
pedagogy of his father.
The piece is particularly
notable for its use of
bitonality in the two
interludes, subtly
foreshadowing more
well-known examples by
Stravinsky, Bartók,
and others by
approximately two
decades.The bitonal
interludes were so ahead
of their time, in fact,
they were omitted from
the first copy that was
submitted to a publisher
in 1892. (Alas, the piece
was rejected even despite
these
“shockingâ€
elements having been left
out, and it wasn’t
published until more than
five decades later.)
There is some ambiguity
about when exactly Ives
added the interludes into
his manuscript copy,
though ample evidence
suggests he had performed
the piece with the
interludes around the
time he notated the piece
in 1891-92. In any case,
in light of this piece
and his other polytonal
explorations from the
last decade of the 19th
century, it seems fair to
give Ives credit for
being a pioneer in this
area!This arrangement for
Piano, Four Hands,
closely follows
Ives’ original
version for organ,
setting aside William
Schuman’s popular
adaptation for symphony
orchestra and William
Rhoads’ band
transcription of the
Schuman orchestration.
Pianists will find that
the piece translates well
to the instrument.
Ideally, the choreography
and logistics of
elbow-to-elbow four-hands
playing approximates the
wild joy one gets from
watching an organist play
the piece (e.g., the
elaborate pedal part in
the final variation).In
preparing this
publication, attention
was paid to details in
the dual Critical
Editions (Presser
443-41003) of both
Ives’ manuscript
edition and the 1949
publication edited by
organist E. Power Biggs
(who is credited with
discovering what had been
a long-lost, forgotten
work.) But as with much
of Ives’ output,
attempting to create a
true
‘urtext’
score is a futile
endeavor, and especially
with a piece such as this
one – in which
Ives incorporated
improvisation in live
performance –
seems unnecessary anyhow.
True die-hards are of
course encouraged to
consult the critical
editions and even find
inspiration in the
orchestrated version.
Generally, performers are
advised to be wild, have
fun, and not to be too
rigid in their
interpretive
choices.Dynamics in this
arrangement mostly follow
the organ score closely.
Pianists will use good
judgment about pedaling
throughout, which should
be straightforward and
intuitive. Courtesy
accidentals have been
provided frequently
– without
parentheses –
balancing the need for
extra clarity in the
context of Ives’
murky musical language,
and a desire to avoid
unnecessary clutter.A few
notes that might inform
interpretive
decisions:mm. 15-16:
There are inconsistencies
here between Ives’
original manuscript and
the 1949 Biggs edition,
regarding the top voice
in m. 15, beat 3 (C# vs.
Cn) and m. 16 (D Major
vs. D Minor).mm. 76-84 &
143-146: In both
Interludes, Ives
emphatically notates
extreme dynamic contrast,
in order to highlight the
bitonality. Although it
may seem counterintuitive
(or even a misprint, as
has apparently been
misconstrued by some),
performers are urged to
follow the
composer’s
marking!m. 109: Two-note
slurs have been added
here for clarity and
consistency with other
similar passages, though
they do not appear in
either the original
manuscript or Biggs.m.
112: The last two eighth
notes of Primo appear as
16ths in the original
manuscript.mm. 183-186:
The original manuscript
has a slightly different
bass line.mm. 184 & 186:
Primo gestures have been
re-written to be slightly
more idiomatic for Piano,
Four Hands.m. 186: The
breath mark at the end of
this bar does not appear
in either the manuscript
or Biggs, but is an
editorial suggestion
– aside from being
appropriately dramatic,
it will indeed be
necessary in a
reverberant hall!I would
like to thank Steven
Vanhauwaert, the other
half of my piano duo,
4handsLA, for his input
on early drafts of this
arrangement.—
Danny Holt, April
2022.
Level
2. Composed by John
M. Feierabend. Choral.
Conversational Solfege.
Music Education. Octavo.
GIA Publications #527.
Published by GIA
Publications (GI.G-527).
Text by Noel
Goemanne.
Conversat
ional Solfege is a
dynamic and captivating
first-through-eighth
grade general music
program that enables
students to become
independent musical
thinkers with the help of
a rich variety of folk
and classical
music. It is organized
around increasingly
complex rhythmic and
melodic content. Each new
rhythmic or melodic
element is discovered
first in patterns and
then reinforced with folk
songs, rhymes, and
classical examples.
Central to the
Conversational Solfege
program is the use of
music harvested from our
rich and diverse American
musical history. This
variety of music serves
as a common thread that
spans and bonds
generations. Each book
contains varied song
material so the teacher
can select appropriate
music for the lower
grades or older
beginners. This 12-step
teaching method carefully
brings students from
readiness to, ultimately,
creating music through
inner hearing and then
transferring their
musical thoughts into
notation—in other
words, to compose music!
This CD provides
14Â classical
selections referenced in
Conversational Solfege
Level 2. These examples
provide reinforcement for
emerging literacy skills,
and they also enable
students to listen to
wonderful classical
examples with greater
attention. Listening to
classical music can be
challenging for
elementary students. With
nothing to hang onto, the
many notes can be too
much to comprehend and
attention soon wanes. But
with minimal literacy
skills, students will
have enough musical
information to discover
that classical music can
be accessible and
appealing. In the
included booklet, timings
are given for each
selection and the
portions of the music
that are readable by the
students are reproduced.
Whether using this CD
with Conversational
Solfege instructional
materials or simply as a
resource of classical
music with simple to read
rhythmic and melodic
material, both teachers
and students will delight
in discovering this
wonderful music through
literacy. This series is
a complete, innovative
approach to teaching
music that will stay
fresh year after year.
CONTENTS Conversational
Solfege Unit 5:Â 1.
Antonin Dvorak •
New World Theme
Conversational Solfege
Unit 6:Â 2. Franz
Joseph Haydn •
Theme from  the
Surprise Symphony, 3.
Camille
Saint-Sans •
Turtles from Carnival of
the Animals, 4. Ludwig
van Beethoven •
Symphony No. 7, 2nd
Movement, 5. Josef
Strauss •
Feuerfest (Fireproof)
Polka, Op. 269
Conversational Solfege
Unit 7:Â 6. Jacques
Offenbach •
Can-Can, 7. Dmitry
Kabalevsky •
Pantomime from the
Comedians, 8. Edvard
Grieg • In the
Hall of the Mountain King
Conversational Solfege
Unit 9 and Unit 11:Â 9.
Jacques
Offenbach •
Barcarolle Conversational
Solfege Unit 10:Â 10.
Edvard Grieg •
Morning Conversational
Solfege Unit 11:Â 11.
Ottorino
Respighi •
Ground in G
Conversational Solfege
Unit 12:Â 12. Johann
Sebastian Bach •
Jesu, Joy of Men's
Desiring, 13. Jean
Sibelius •
Finlandia Conversational
Solfege Unit 13:Â 14.
Ludwig Van
Beethoven •
Symphony No. 6, Movement
5Â John M. Feierabend
is Professor Emeritus and
former Director of Music
Education at The Hartt
School of Music,
University of Hartford,
Connecticut.
Soli SATB, Coro SATB, 2 Ob, Tl (Eh), Fg, 2 Vl, Va, Bc SKU: CA.3118657 ...(+)
Soli SATB, Coro SATB, 2
Ob, Tl (Eh), Fg, 2 Vl,
Va, Bc
SKU:
CA.3118657
Cantata
for the 7th Sunday after
Trinity. Composed by
Johann Sebastian Bach.
Edited by Uwe Wolf.
Stuttgart Urtext Edition:
Bach vocal. Sacred vocal
music, Cantatas, Advent.
Study score. Composed
1723. BWV 186. 56 pages.
Duration 40 minutes.
Carus Verlag #CV
31.186/57. Published by
Carus Verlag
(CA.3118657).
ISBN
9790007245023. Key: G
minor / c dorian.
Language:
German/English.
The
cantata Argre dich, o
Seele, nicht BWV 186 is
in a sense the companion
work to the much
better-known cantata Herz
und Mund und Tat und
Leben BWV 147. Both were
composed in Advent 1716
as Bach's last two
cantatas for the Weimar
court, and both were
arranged for another
Sunday in Bach's first
Leipzig cantata cycle by
the addition of
recitatives and a
large-scale chorale
movement, heard at the
end of both parts. The
sound of the Cantata BWV
186 is characterized by
the four-part woodwind
ensemble writing. The
final chorale, heard
twice, anticipates the
opening choruses of the
chorale cantatas from
Bach's second cycle.
Cantata BWV 186 for the
7th Sunday after Trinity
is a considerably
expanded reworking of a
Weimar Advent cantata of
1716. Only the text
survives of the Advent
cantata, but Diethard
Hellmann has been able to
reconstruct the work from
the later version (Carus
31.186). Score available
separately - see item
CA.3118600.
SKU: BR.EB-9387 Composed by Christian Mason. Edition Breitkopf. New music...(+)
SKU: BR.EB-9387
Composed by Christian
Mason. Edition Breitkopf.
New music (post-2000);
Music post-1945. Set of
parts. Composed 2019.
Duration 20'. Breitkopf
and Haertel #EB 9387.
Published by Breitkopf
and Haertel (BR.EB-9387).
ISBN 9790004188576. 0
x 0
inches.
Commissione
d by the Kolner
Philharmonie (KolnMusik)
for the non bthvn projekt
2020 and the Cite de la
musique / Philharmonie de
Paris Dedicated to
Arditti Quartet Each
movement of this quartet
explores a single state,
its lights and its
shadows. Each movement,
you could say, is a
moment . And these
moments could last for
more or less time without
compromising their
essential nature. The
processes could be
extended or compressed,
repeated or reversed, but
the core ideas - if they
are ideas, but maybe they
are simply experiences? -
are what they are.
Despite this, the precise
sequence of movements
matters a great deal.
Heard together they do
articulate some kind of
linear narrative, maybe
even a metaphorical
journey (albeit a
circular one where the
arrival might, who knows,
prove to be a new
departure). One situation
gives way to another and
instrumental
relationships within the
quartet vary, but
ultimately the
imaginative impulse
behind the piece
preferences states of
unity. Whether or not
this unity is expressed
texturally - sometimes
literal unisons pervade,
but not always - there is
generally a sense that
even seemingly diverse
aspects relate to a
fundamental condition of
concord: a conscious
limitation in the pitch
structure to spectral
emanations of the root
notes E-flat and C. At
the opening this is
unambiguously audible in
the perpetual alternation
of these two notes in the
low cello register. Later
the two spectra are woven
into a micro-tonal
'double-spectral-mode'
(derived from the first
24 partials of the C and
E-flat fundamentals),
which defines the subtle
melodic inflection of the
second movement, and the
never-quite-chromatic
ascending scales of the
third. For now this feels
like a rich source of
melodic possibility, so
far only just glimpsed...
And why the insistence on
E-flat? Probably by way
of historical anecdote.
Apparently Karl Holz (a
member of the
Schuppanzigh Quartet)
said to Beethoven: We
performed your Quartet in
E-flat Op. 127 in his
[Weber's] honour; he
found the Adagio too
long; but I told him:
Beethoven also has a
longer feeling and a
longer imagination than
anyone standing or not
standing today. - Since
then, even Linke (another
member of the quartet)
can no longer stand him:
we cannot forgive him for
this. Listening again to
Op. 127, in light of
these comments, I was
struck by the opening
moment: the unfolding of
an E-flat 7th chord over
the course of a few bars.
Every time I hear it I
find myself wishing that
Beethoven would have
lingered longer there,
without resolution or
progression, just
enjoying that sonority.
And maybe - why not? -
tune the 7th naturally.
And what would it be to
stretch that moment into
an entire piece? What
would Weber think of
that?! In the end I was
not so extreme in my
self-limitation, and
other concerns took over,
but it was from these
thoughts that the
composition process
began... Lastly, about
the title: it comes from
a book called 'The Clock
of the Long Now' by
Stewart Brand, published
at the turn of the
millennium. It's about
the creation of a
thousand-year clock to
embody the aspiration to
thinking in terms of
longer time-spans than
are presently habitual.
If the music of Beethoven
embodied a 'longer'
feeling and imagination
than some of his
contemporaries were able
to appreciate, what is
our relation to time now?
Longer or shorter? Maybe
it depends who you ask...
It's probably more
extreme in both
directions: attention
spans might be
diminishing in the
digital world, but
conversely there is an
awareness of distant
pasts and potential
futures which would have
been inconceivable at the
time of Beethoven. In any
case, the interesting
thing is to ponder how
societal conditions,
assumptions and
expectations might -
whether consciously or
unconsciously - influence
the time of art, for
listeners and creators
alike. And what if time
is running out?
(Christian
Mason)
World
premiere: Paris, Cite de
la musique, January 14,
2020.
By Felix Bartholdy Mendelssohn (1809-1847). Edited by Alfred Dorffel. Arranged b...(+)
By Felix Bartholdy
Mendelssohn (1809-1847).
Edited by Alfred Dorffel.
Arranged by August Horn.
Choir and piano. For Solo
voices, SATB Choir,
Piano. This edition:
Paperback. Oratorio
(complete),
Transcriptions, Original
Works, Choral. Romantic
Period; Sacr. Large Vocal
Score. Romantic Period;
Sacred/Hymns, German.
(The Christmas Story Through Timeless Carols). By Larry Shackley. For SATB choir...(+)
(The Christmas Story
Through Timeless Carols).
By Larry Shackley. For
SATB choir, piano (with
optional instrumental
accompaniment). Cantatas.
Christmas, Sacred. Choral
score with performance
CD. Published by Lorenz
Publishing Company
Choral SATB Choir and Piano SKU: CF.CM9740 Composed by Mark Burrows. 16 p...(+)
Choral SATB Choir and
Piano
SKU:
CF.CM9740
Composed by
Mark Burrows. 16 pages.
Duration 4 minutes, 22
seconds. Carl Fischer
Music #CM9740. Published
by Carl Fischer Music
(CF.CM9740).
ISBN
9781491161203. UPC:
680160919789. Key: Bb
major. English. Siegfried
Sasson.
Everyone
suddenly burst out
singing; And I was filled
with such delight As
prisoned birds must find
in freedom... These
opening lines to Everyone
Sang by the British war
poet Siegfried Sassoon
feel as relevant today as
they did when the poem
was first published in
1919. It was after the
end of World War I and
these words capture so
much of the collective
exhilaration, relief, and
pure joy about the Great
War finally coming to an
end. And yet Sassoon
himself felt none of that
when he wrote this poem.
In his own words, he was
feeling dull-minded and
depressed. Perhaps his
time in the trenches was
still too recent. One of
the reasons the creative
arts are so powerful is
that a poet like Sassoon
(or a painter like Van
Gogh or a composer like
Mahler) can take their
own feelings of deep
sadness or pain and
transform them into
something beautiful, even
uplifting. Everyone Sang
is a celebration of the
promise that things can
get better, that there
are things worth looking
forward to. The
poem itself has so much
rhythm and musicality.
The appearance of
suddenly in the first
line of each verse gives
those verses a rush of
energy. Attention to the
crescendo in measure 7,
and again in measure 37,
from mf to f will help
the listener experience
that rush. There are
expressive opportunities
with so many of the
poet's bold choices of
action words - burst,
winging, and shaken. Then
there's alliteration - a
poetic device that can be
overdone, but Sassoon
strikes a wonderful
balance. Suddenly/singing
(measures 6-7 and 10-11)
Find/freedom (measure
21-22) Winging/wildly
(measure 23) Setting/sun
(measures 47-49)
Was/wordless (measures
65-75) Give these
alliterations just a hint
of emphasis (without
overdoing) to bring out
the natural rhythm of the
text. And just as
O is set apart in the
poem by punctuation, I
wanted the musical
setting - in measure 57 -
to honor that feeling of
wonder - ...O, but
Everyone Was a bird; and
the song was wordless;
the singing will Never be
done. Friends, there is
so much good ahead, so
much to be excited about.
May the singing never be
done. Everyone
suddenly burst out
singingAnd I was filled
with such delightAs
prisoned birds must find
in freedom…These
opening lines to Everyone
Sang by the British war
poet Siegfried Sassoon
feel as relevant today as
they did when the poem
was first published in
1919. It was after the
end of World War I and
these words capture so
much of the collective
exhilaration, relief, and
pure joy about the
“Great Warâ€
finally coming to an end.
And yet Sassoon himself
felt none of that when he
wrote this poem. In his
own words, he “was
feeling dull-minded and
depressed.†Perhaps
his time in the trenches
was still too recent.One
of the reasons the
creative arts are so
powerful is that a poet
like Sassoon (or a
painter like Van Gogh or
a composer like Mahler)
can take their own
feelings of deep sadness
or pain and transform
them into something
beautiful, even
uplifting. Everyone Sang
is a celebration of the
promise that things can
get better, that there
are things worth looking
forward to. The poem
itself has so much rhythm
and musicality.The
appearance of
“suddenly†in
the first line of each
verse gives those verses
a rush of energy.
Attention to the
crescendo in measure 7,
and again in measure 37,
from mf to f will help
the listener experience
that rush.There are
expressive opportunities
with so many of the
poet’s bold
choices of action words
– burst, winging,
and shaken.Then
there’s
alliteration - a poetic
device that can be
overdone, but Sassoon
strikes a wonderful
balance.Suddenly/singing
(measures 6-7 and
10-11)Find/freedom
(measure
21-22)Winging/wildly
(measure 23)Setting/sun
(measures
47-49)Was/wordless
(measures 65-75)Give
these alliterations just
a hint of emphasis
(without overdoing) to
bring out the natural
rhythm of the
text. And just as
“O†is set
apart in the poem by
punctuation, I wanted the
musical setting –
in measure 57 - to honor
that feeling of wonder
–…O, but
EveryoneWas a bird; and
the song was wordless;
the singing willNever be
done. Friends, there
is so much good ahead, so
much to be excited
about.May the singing
never be done.