SKU: CY.CC2697

Gliere's Two Pieces, Op. 9 is an early work, originally written for double bass with the two movements having been beautifully arranged for Euphonium and Piano by Ralph Sauer.

The Intermezzo is lyrical, sensual and Eastern sounding.

The Tarantella is a sprightly folk dance of southern Italy. The curious name comes from the wolf spider or Tarantula whose bite is highly poisonous and in earlier times was believed to cause the victims to engage in a frenzied dance.

The two movements are about 9.5 minutes in length and are
appropriate for advanced performers.

The mp3 clip is of Ralph Sauer on Trombone and Mac Booke on Piano.

SKU: CY.CC2608

Lalo was born in Lille (Nord), in northernmost France. He attended that city's music conservatory in his youth. Then, beginning at age 16, Lalo studied at the Paris Conservatoire under Berlioz's old enemy François Antoine Habeneck. For several years, he worked as a string player and teacher in Paris. In 1848, he joined with friends to found the Armingaud Quartet, playing viola and second violin. Lalo's earliest surviving compositions are songs and chamber works. He dedicated most of his career to the composition of chamber music, which was in vogue, and to writing works for orchestra.
These two works beautifully arranged by Mr. Sauder show the core of Lalo's chamber music; personal, subtle at times and filled with a French lyricism.
For advanced performers.

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: 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.CC2457

Sir Arnold Bax composed in a style that blended Romantic, Impressionist and Celtic flavors together in a brilliant way. Mr. Sauer has taken these two works originally for Piano and brilliantly transcribed them for Euphonium & Piano. The Country Tune begins with a beautiful melody which turns into a jaunty dance. The Burlesque is also dance-like, but mixes 3/4 and 4/4 time in a most inovative way. These works are light, airy & very pleasant to perform and listen to.

SKU: CY.CC2981

ISBN 9790530058008.

Debu ssy's original six-movement suite was written and first performed in 1908 on the Piano. It was dedicated to Debussy's daughter, Claude-Emma who was only three at the time.

This lovely arrangement by Ralph Sauer of two of the movements: The Little Shepherd and Golliwogg's Cakewalk are suitable for advanced performers and total about 6-minutes in length. Solo part is in bass clef.

SKU: CY.CC2516

Le Rossignol or the Nightingale is originally a vocalise for Soprano solo from Saint-Saen's incidental orchestral music for the play, Parysatis written in 1902. This 4 minute work is all about mood. For this arrangement, Mr. Sauer transposes into the key of C, which lays perfectly for all of the bird-like calls that are in phrases which are slurred. The music has a lot of ad lib. tempo sections which gives the performer plenty of time to create that magic call of the Nightingale. Early writers thought it was the female that sang, but in fact it is the male. The Nightingale usually sings at night or just before dawn when other birds are silent and has a strong spontaneous song with an impressive range of trills and whistles.

SKU: CY.CC2737

Debussy's General Lavine - eccentric, is taken from his Book II of Piano Preludes written in 1912. It is in the style of a Cakewalk, a dance developed in the late 19th century at get-togethers on slave plantations in the southern United States.

The music is based on Edward Lavine, a famous vaudeville performer whose act was presented at the Marigny Theatre around the same time. It is the only work by Debussy composed as a musical portrait for a human personality.

The music of about 3 minutes in length is 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.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.CC2803

Arnold Schoenberg's Six Little Pieces, Opus 19, originally for Piano, were published in 1913 at a time when the composer was reacting to his feelings of the excesses of the Romantic Period. They were composed concurrently with his gigantic work Gurre-Lieder. The first five pieces were written in one day and the last one shortly after the death of Gustav Mahler as a rumored tombeau or memorial. Mr. Sauer has deftly arranged these six short pieces of around 5 minutes in length for advanced performers.
Parts are supplied for bass and treble readers.

SKU: FL.FX071926

The wind carries away the yellow leaves fallen on the pavement, the cafes put tables and chairs in... I evoke here a fall tour that is difficult to do quietly in Paris. How to take your time in this city with so many streets to cross (musical phrases of 3 measures), cars or buses to avoid (musical phrases starts on the second time). While the chestnut vendors are on subway entrances, how not to hurry like others (theme B) to 'catch' the subway...