Composed by George Benjamin. This edition: For Countertenor, Women�s Voices and Orchestra. Full Orchestra; Masterworks; Score. Faber Edition. 20th Century; Masterwork. Published by Faber Music (AP.12-0571538878).

Orchestra - Grade 3.5

SKU: AP.FO9912C

Arranged by Jerry Brubaker. Full Orchestra; Performance Music Ensemble; Single Titles. Pop Concert Full Orchestra. Light Concert; Movie. Score. 44 pages. Duration 7:24. Belwin Music #00-FO9912C. Published by Belwin Music (AP.FO9912C).

UPC: 654979000365. English.

The world has waited years, and finally, last May, the motion picture event of the century exploded on the screen. Jerry Brubaker presents a highly creative mix of these great themes from the power-packed John Williams' score: Star Wars (Main Theme), Anakin's Theme, Augie's Great Municipal Band, Duel of the Fates, and the End Credits. Every orchestra in the world will be playing this one! (7:24).

Orchestra (2 Fl, 2 Ob, 2 clarinet, clarinet-B, 2 bassoon, 3Hn, 2 Trp, 3trombone, Tb, harp, timpani, percussion, Str)

SKU: BA.BA06848

Orchester-Ballade. Composed by Leos Janacek. Edited by Jarmil Burghauser and Radomil Eliska. This edition: complete edition, urtext edition. Linen. Complete Critical Edition of the Works of Leos Janacek D/6. Complete edition, Score. Composed 1912-1914. Duration 12 minutes. Baerenreiter Verlag #BA06848_00. Published by Baerenreiter Verlag (BA.BA06848).

ISBN 9790006483303. 34.4 x 27 cm inches. Text: Svatopluk Cech.

Over the years Janácek’s uvre has increasingly received the recognition it so richly merits and performances of his works are becoming more and more frequent. This development is, however, offset by a manuscript tradition so disorderly that some of Janácek’s works continue, as before, to be played in versions which are heavily adapted, corrupt or otherwise contrary to the composer’s intentions. Thus, a critical edition of Janácek’s music is indispensable for scholars and performers alike.

This editon presents an authentic printed text based on all available sources for each work. In addition to the musical text, each volume also contains a critical report (Czech / German), a rendition of deleted or rejected versions, and a comprehensive appendix of facsimiles.

About Barenreiter Urtext

What can I expect from a Barenreiter Urtext edition?< /p>

MUSICOLOGICA LLY SOUND
- A reliable musical text based on all available sources
- A description of the sources
- Information on the genesis and history of the work
- Valuable notes on performance practice
- Includes an introduction with critical commentary explaining source discrepancies and editorial decisions

... AND PRACTICAL
- Page-turns, fold-out pages, and cues where you need them
- A well-presented layout and a user-friendly format
- Excellent print quality
- Superior paper and binding

Orchestra (Score) - intermediate

SKU: HL.49001838

Score. Edited by Karlheinz Schultz-Hauser. Arranged by Karlheinz Schultz-Hauser. This edition: Saddle stitching. Sheet music. Concertino (Chamber Orchestra). Classical. Score. 19 pages. Schott Music #CON168. Published by Schott Music (HL.49001838).

ISBN 9790001024358. UPC: 884088026738. 9.0x12.0x0.082 inches.

String Orchestra and Basso continuo; Woodwinds ad lib.

Orchestra - Grade 3

SKU: AP.41269

Arranged by Vince Gassi. MakeMusic Cloud; Performance Music Ensemble; Single Titles; String Orchestra. Highland/Etling String Orchestra. Folk; Traditional. Score and Part(s). 124 pages. Duration 2:45. Highland/Etling #00-41269. Published by Highland/Etling (AP.41269).

UPC: 038081480879. English. Traditional Canadian Folk Song.

For a special touch at your next concert, feature one of Canada's most popular folk songs. Often sung to keep time while canoeing or around campfires, the lyrics are originally from a 19th century poem by First Nations poet Pauline Johnson, making this perfect for cross-cultural study. Although this work can easily be performed with strings alone, percussion instruments, including timpani and bells, expand the palette of colors, helping to create a rich tapestry for your listeners. (2:45) This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.

Deluxe Score. By John Williams. John Williams Signature Orch. Softcover. Published by Hal Leonard.

Orchestra - Grade 3

SKU: AP.35917S

Arranged by Vince Gassi. Performance Music Ensemble; Single Titles; String Orchestra. Belwin Intermediate String Orchestra. Christmas; Folk; Sacred; Traditional; Winter. Score. 8 pages. Belwin Music #00-35917S. Published by Belwin Music (AP.35917S).

UPC: 038081407586. English. Traditional.

The Huron Carol is Canada's oldest Christmas carol written in 1643 by Jean de Brébeuf, a Jesuit missionary. The melody is from a traditional French folk song, Une Jeune Pucelle (A Young Maid). Intended as a gift and teaching aid to the Huron people, Brébeuf wrote the lyrics in their native language. The Moon of Winter is a powerful and moving adaptation of this carol for strings that will enhance your next Christmas concert, adding a sense of reverence and honor.

Arranged by Jerry Brubaker. Arr. Jerry Brubaker. For Full Orchestra. Full Orchestra. Pop Concert Full Orchestra. Movie. Level: Medium Easy to Medium (grade III-IV). Conductor Score and Parts. 426 pages. Duration 7:24. Published by Alfred Publishing.

Orchestra (Full Score)

SKU: HL.1190014

For Orchestra. Composed by Waldo de los Rios. E.B. Marks. Concert. Softcover. Edward B. Marks Music #MP077076. Published by Edward B. Marks Music (HL.1190014).

ISBN 9781705192542. UPC: 196288131816.

Osval do Nicolás Ferraro Gutiérrez (1934-1977), better known as Waldo de los Ríos, was an Argentine composer best remembered for his knack for making pop music out of European classical music. His South American Suite (Suite SudAmericana) is in four movements: 1. Paraguay (Nanduty; Jungle Night; Epic), 2. Argentina (Los Colorados; The Shadow of the Tiger; The Tryst), 3. Peru (Cuzco Ruins; Lima; The Giants), and 4. Uruguay (The Wagon; Gaucho Song; Carnival).

Orchestra (Score) - Grade 4

SKU: HL.14027994

Composed by Poul Ruders. Music Sales America. Classical. Set. 86 pages. Edition Wilhelm Hansen #WH29830. Published by Edition Wilhelm Hansen (HL.14027994).

ISBN 9788759864593.

New York is the city which fascinates and inspires Ruders. Time and again he goes back there to work. 'Manhattan Abstraction' (1982) subtitles - a symphonic skyline for large orchestra - was conceived there. Ruders' Brittish colleague Oliver Knussen defines the piece as: - a performance of an extraordinary Morden-Times-like construction. It is a sort of symphonic sculpture, which in the composer's own words words propels forth from one particular inspiration: the New York profile, as seen from Liberty Island, one icy cold January day with it's open, clear sky and dazzling sun light. 'Manhatten Abstraction' appears as an amalgam of some of the compositorical habits found in present pieces. For instance, are present here compositorical ideas and melodic loans from 'Capriccio Pian'e Forte', 2nd String Quartet(1979), 'Four Compositions' (1980), and 2nd Piano Sonata(1982). The question at hand is mainly concerned with the enhanced elaboration of Ruders' use of the classic English change-ringing system: a permuting method pre-determining the order of tone-appearances and /or tone groups; a serial technique in other words. In spite of the rigidly fixed material, Ruders somehow manages to chisel out a personal expression by way of emphasising contrasting elements already existing within the material itself. The spiky, repetitive sections form a counterpart to a more human violin-solo. This dialectical tension is - as hinted by the title - a symphonic abstraction of a fascinating metropolis; the most beautiful and the ugliest. The subtitle: a symphonic skyline reflects the musical erection of the Manhattan profile, which under the clear sky, materializes into the most powerful and compelling man-made sculpture on earth. Thus 'Manhattan Abstraction' is a homage to, as well as a vision of, this giant contraption of concrete, glass, and chrome.

Composed by John Williams. For flute I,II,III, piccolo (alto flute, flute), oboe I,II, english horn (oboe), Bb clarinet I,II, Eb clarinet (Bb clarinet, bass clarinet), Bb bass clarinet (Eb clarinet), bassoon I,II, contrabassoon (bassoon), F horn, I-IV, trumpet I-IV, trombone I-IV, tuba, timpani, percussion I-III, harp, piano/celeste, string and chorus (optional). Format: full score (spiral bound - parts not included). Movies. Series: Hal Leonard John Williams Signature Edition. 81 pages. 10.5x14 inches. Published by Hal Leonard.

By John Williams. Arranged by Victor Lopez. By John Williams / arr. Victor Lopez. For Full Orchestra. Full Orchestra. Pop Concert Full Orchestra. Movie. Conductor Score. Published by Alfred Publishing.
Level: 3 (grade 3).

By Ruth Elaine Schram. For orchestra (conductor's score). Holy Week, Holy Communion. Cantata. Published by Lorenz Publishing Company

Orchestra - Grade 2.5

SKU: AP.48076

Composed by Richard Meyer. MakeMusic Cloud; Performance Music Ensemble; Single Titles; String Orchestra. Sound Innovations for String Orchestra. Multicultural; Novelty. Score and Part(s). 140 pages. Duration 3:00. Alfred Music #00-48076. Published by Alfred Music (AP.48076).

ISBN 9781470658786. UPC: 038081554334. English.

Take your orchestra on a trip around the world with this fun medley of some of the most famous melodies ever written in A Musical Passport by Richard Meyer. Using 22 tunes from 17 different countries, this is the ultimate multi-cultural experience for your students and your audience! The melodies are tossed from section to section so all the instruments get a chance in the spotlight, and the quickly changing styles will keep everyone on their toes.

Songs that are included in A Musical Passport by Richard Meyer are: America, the Beautiful (U.S.A.) * Rule, Britannia (England) * The Irish Washerwoman (Ireland) * Scotland the Brave (Scotland) * Roll Out the Barrel (Czechoslovakia/Germany) * Funiculi, Funicula (Italy) * Frere Jacques (France) * Dark Eyes (Russia) * Jasmine Flower Song (China) * Arirang (Korea) * Sakura (Japan) * Obwisana (Ghana) * Siyahamba (We Are Marching) (South Africa [Zulu]) * Waltzing Matilda (Australia) * La Cumparsita (South America [Uruguay]) * Las Chiapanecas (Mexico) * Cielito Lindo (Mexico) * O Canada (Canada) * Oh! Susanna (U.S.A.) * Camptown Races (U.S.A.) * America, the Beautiful (U.S.A.) * Home, Sweet Home (U.S.A.) * The Star-Spangled Banner (U.S.A.) * America, the Beautiful (U.S.A.). Correlates with Sound Innovations for String Orchestra, Book 2, Level 6. (3:00) This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.

Orchestra - Grade 2.5

SKU: AP.48076S

Composed by Richard Meyer. MakeMusic Cloud; Performance Music Ensemble; Single Titles; String Orchestra. Sound Innovations for String Orchestra. Multicultural; Novelty. Score. 16 pages. Duration 3:00. Alfred Music #00-48076S. Published by Alfred Music (AP.48076S).

ISBN 9781470658793. UPC: 038081554341. English.

Take your orchestra on a trip around the world with this fun medley of some of the most famous melodies ever written in A Musical Passport by Richard Meyer. Using 22 tunes from 17 different countries, this is the ultimate multi-cultural experience for your students and your audience! The melodies are tossed from section to section so all the instruments get a chance in the spotlight, and the quickly changing styles will keep everyone on their toes.

Songs that are included in A Musical Passport by Richard Meyer are: America, the Beautiful (U.S.A.) * Rule, Britannia (England) * The Irish Washerwoman (Ireland) * Scotland the Brave (Scotland) * Roll Out the Barrel (Czechoslovakia/Germany) * Funiculi, Funicula (Italy) * Frere Jacques (France) * Dark Eyes (Russia) * Jasmine Flower Song (China) * Arirang (Korea) * Sakura (Japan) * Obwisana (Ghana) * Siyahamba (We Are Marching) (South Africa [Zulu]) * Waltzing Matilda (Australia) * La Cumparsita (South America [Uruguay]) * Las Chiapanecas (Mexico) * Cielito Lindo (Mexico) * O Canada (Canada) * Oh! Susanna (U.S.A.) * Camptown Races (U.S.A.) * America, the Beautiful (U.S.A.) * Home, Sweet Home (U.S.A.) * The Star-Spangled Banner (U.S.A.) * America, the Beautiful (U.S.A.). Correlates with Sound Innovations for String Orchestra, Book 2, Level 6. (3:00) This title available in MakeMusic Cloud.

Orchestra

SKU: PR.416415760

For Really Big Orchestra. Composed by PDQ Bach. Edited by Prof. Peter Schickele. Study Score. With Standard notation. Duration 11 minutes. Theodore Presser Company #416-41576. Published by Theodore Presser Company (PR.416415760).

UPC: 680160636532. 9 x 12 inches.

The 1712 Overture stands out in P.D.Q. Bach's oeuvre for two reasons, among others: it is by far the most programmatic instrumental piece among those by the minimeister of Wein-am-Rhein so far unearthed, and 2) its discovery has led to a revelation about the composer's father, Johann Sebastian Bach, that has exploded like a bombshell on the usually serene musicological landscape. The overture is based on an anecdote told to P.D.Q. Bach by a cousin, Peter Ulrich. Since P.U. Bach lived in Dudeldorf, only a few miles down the road from Wein-am-Rhein, he was P.D.Q.'s closest relative, and he was, in fact, one of the few members of the family who was on speaking terms with P.D.Q. The story, related to P.D.Q. (fortunately for us posterity types) in a letter, may be summarized thus: The town of Dudeldorf was founded by two brothers, Rudi and Dieter Dudel, early in the 18th century. Rudi remained mayor of the newborn burg for the rest of his long life, but Dieter had a dream of starting a musicians' colony, an entire city devoted to music, which dream, he finally decided, could be realized only in the New World. In 1712, he and several other bagpipers sailed to Boston, never to return to Germany. (Henceforth, Rudi became known as der deutscher Dudel and Dieter as the Yankee Dudel). Unfortunately, the head of the Boston Musicians' Guild had gotten wind of Dudel's plans, and Wilhelm Wiesel (pron. VEE-zle), known none too affectionately around town as Wiesel the Weasel, was not about to share what few gigs there were in colonial America with more foreigners and outside agitators. He and his cronies were on hand to meet Dudel's boat when it pulled into Boston Harbor; they intended to prevent the newcomers' disembarkation, but Dudel and his companions managed to escape to the other side of the bay in a dinghy, landing with just enough time to rent a carriage and horses before hearing the sound of The Weasel and his men, who had had to come around the long way. The Germans headed West, with the Bostonians in furious pursuit. soon the city had been left far behind, and by midnight so had the pursuers; Dieter Dudel decided that it was safe for him and his men to stop and sleep until daybreak. When they awoke, they found that they were in a beautiful landscape of low, forested mountains and pleasant fields, warmed by the brilliant morning sun and serenaded by an entrancing variety of birds. Here, Dudel thought, her is where I will build my colony. The immigrants continued down the road at a leisurely pace until they came upon a little church, all by itself in the countryside, from which there suddenly emanated the sounds of a pipe organ. At this point, the temptation to quote from P.U. Bach's letter to P.D.Q. cannot be resisted: They went inside and, after listening to the glorious music for a while, introduced themselves to the organist. And who do you think it was? Are you ready for this -- it was your old man! Hey, no kidding -- you know, I'm sure, that your father was the guy to get when it came to testing new organs, and whoever had that one in Massachusetts built offered old Sebastian a tidy sum to go over there and check it out. The unexpected meeting with J.S. Bach and his sponsors was interrupted by the sound of horse hooves, as the dreaded Wiesel and his men thundered on to the scene. They had been riding all night, however, and they were no spring chickens to start with, and as soon as they reached the church they all dropped, exhausted, to the ground. The elated Germans rang the church bells and offered to buy everyone a beer at the nearest tavern. There they were taught, and joined in singing, what might be called the national anthem of the New World. The melody of this pre-revolutionary patriotic song is still remembered (P.D.Q. Bach quotes it, in the bass instruments, near the end of the overture), but is words are now all but forgotten: Freedom, of thee we sing, Freedom e'er is our goal; Death to the English King, Long live Rock and Ross. The striking paucity of biographical references to Johann Sebastian Bah during the year 1712 can now be explained: he was abroad for a significant part of that year, testing organs in the British Colonies. That this revelation has not been accepted as fact by the musicological establishment is no surprise, since it means that a lot of books would have to be rewritten. The members of that establishment haven't even accepted the existence of P.D.Q. Bach, one of whose major works the 1712 Overture certainly is. It is also a work that shows Tchaikowsky up as the shameless plagiarizer that some of us have always known he was. The discovery of this awesome opus was made possible by a Boston Pops Centennial Research Commission; the first modern performance took place at the opening concert of the 100th anniversary season of that orchestra, under the exciting but authentic direction of John Williams.

Orchestra

SKU: PR.41641576L

For Really Big Orchestra. Composed by PDQ Bach. Edited by Peter Schickele. Large Score. With Standard notation. Duration 11 minutes. Theodore Presser Company #416-41576L. Published by Theodore Presser Company (PR.41641576L).

UPC: 680160636549. 11 x 17 inches.

The 1712 Overture stands out in P.D.Q. Bach's oeuvre for two reasons, among others: it is by far the most programmatic instrumental piece among those by the minimeister of Wein-am-Rhein so far unearthed, and 2) its discovery has led to a revelation about the composer's father, Johann Sebastian Bach, that has exploded like a bombshell on the usually serene musicological landscape. The overture is based on an anecdote told to P.D.Q. Bach by a cousin, Peter Ulrich. Since P.U. Bach lived in Dudeldorf, only a few miles down the road from Wein-am-Rhein, he was P.D.Q.'s closest relative, and he was, in fact, one of the few members of the family who was on speaking terms with P.D.Q. The story, related to P.D.Q. (fortunately for us posterity types) in a letter, may be summarized thus: The town of Dudeldorf was founded by two brothers, Rudi and Dieter Dudel, early in the 18th century. Rudi remained mayor of the newborn burg for the rest of his long life, but Dieter had a dream of starting a musicians' colony, an entire city devoted to music, which dream, he finally decided, could be realized only in the New World. In 1712, he and several other bagpipers sailed to Boston, never to return to Germany. (Henceforth, Rudi became known as der deutscher Dudel and Dieter as the Yankee Dudel). Unfortunately, the head of the Boston Musicians' Guild had gotten wind of Dudel's plans, and Wilhelm Wiesel (pron. VEE-zle), known none too affectionately around town as Wiesel the Weasel, was not about to share what few gigs there were in colonial America with more foreigners and outside agitators. He and his cronies were on hand to meet Dudel's boat when it pulled into Boston Harbor; they intended to prevent the newcomers' disembarkation, but Dudel and his companions managed to escape to the other side of the bay in a dinghy, landing with just enough time to rent a carriage and horses before hearing the sound of The Weasel and his men, who had had to come around the long way. The Germans headed West, with the Bostonians in furious pursuit. soon the city had been left far behind, and by midnight so had the pursuers; Dieter Dudel decided that it was safe for him and his men to stop and sleep until daybreak. When they awoke, they found that they were in a beautiful landscape of low, forested mountains and pleasant fields, warmed by the brilliant morning sun and serenaded by an entrancing variety of birds. Here, Dudel thought, her is where I will build my colony. The immigrants continued down the road at a leisurely pace until they came upon a little church, all by itself in the countryside, from which there suddenly emanated the sounds of a pipe organ. At this point, the temptation to quote from P.U. Bach's letter to P.D.Q. cannot be resisted: They went inside and, after listening to the glorious music for a while, introduced themselves to the organist. And who do you think it was? Are you ready for this -- it was your old man! Hey, no kidding -- you know, I'm sure, that your father was the guy to get when it came to testing new organs, and whoever had that one in Massachusetts built offered old Sebastian a tidy sum to go over there and check it out. The unexpected meeting with J.S. Bach and his sponsors was interrupted by the sound of horse hooves, as the dreaded Wiesel and his men thundered on to the scene. They had been riding all night, however, and they were no spring chickens to start with, and as soon as they reached the church they all dropped, exhausted, to the ground. The elated Germans rang the church bells and offered to buy everyone a beer at the nearest tavern. There they were taught, and joined in singing, what might be called the national anthem of the New World. The melody of this pre-revolutionary patriotic song is still remembered (P.D.Q. Bach quotes it, in the bass instruments, near the end of the overture), but is words are now all but forgotten: Freedom, of thee we sing, Freedom e'er is our goal; Death to the English King, Long live Rock and Ross. The striking paucity of biographical references to Johann Sebastian Bah during the year 1712 can now be explained: he was abroad for a significant part of that year, testing organs in the British Colonies. That this revelation has not been accepted as fact by the musicological establishment is no surprise, since it means that a lot of books would have to be rewritten. The members of that establishment haven't even accepted the existence of P.D.Q. Bach, one of whose major works the 1712 Overture certainly is. It is also a work that shows Tchaikowsky up as the shameless plagiarizer that some of us have always known he was. The discovery of this awesome opus was made possible by a Boston Pops Centennial Research Commission; the first modern performance took place at the opening concert of the 100th anniversary season of that orchestra, under the exciting but authentic direction of John Williams.

By Paulo Braga Diniz. Orchestra. Level: Grade 3. Music Book. Published by Neil A. Kjos Music Company.

Soprano, tenor, Knabensoprano, flugelhorn, mixed choir and chamber orchestra (Study Score)

SKU: HL.49018099

Boy Soprano, Soprano, Tenor, Flugelhorn, Mixed Chorus, and Chamber Orchestra Study Score. Composed by Harald Weiss. This edition: Paperback/Soft Cover. Sheet music. Study Score. Classical. Softcover. Composed 2008/2009. 188 pages. Duration 100'. Schott Music #ED20619. Published by Schott Music (HL.49018099).

ISBN 9790001158428. UPC: 884088567347. 8.25x11.75x0.457 inches. Latin - German.

On letting go(Concerning the selection of the texts) In the selection of the texts, I have allowed myself to be motivated and inspired by the concept of 'letting go'. This appears to me to be one of the essential aspects of dying, but also of life itself. We humans cling far too strongly to successful achievements, whether they have to do with material or ideal values, or relationships of all kinds. We cannot and do not want to let go, almost as if our life depended on it. As we will have to practise the art of letting go at the latest during our hour of death, perhaps we could already make a start on this while we are still alive. Tagore describes this farewell with very simple but strikingly vivid imagery: 'I will return the key of my door'. I have set this text for tenor solo. Here I imagine, and have correspondingly noted in a certain passage of the score, that the protagonist finds himself as though 'in an ocean' of voices in which he is however not drowning, but immersing himself in complete relaxation. The phenomenon of letting go is described even more simply and tersely in Psalm 90, verse 12: 'So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom'. This cannot be expressed more plainly.I have begun the requiem with a solo boy's voice singing the beginning of this psalm on a single note, the note A. This in effect says it all. The work comes full circle at the culmination with a repeat of the psalm which subsequently leads into a resplendent 'lux aeterna'. The intermediate texts of the Requiem which highlight the phenomenon of letting go in the widest spectrum of colours originate on the one hand from the Latin liturgy of the Messa da Requiem (In Paradisum, Libera me, Requiem aeternam, Mors stupebit) and on the other hand from poems by Joseph von Eichendorff, Hermann Hesse, Rabindranath Tagore and Rainer Maria Rilke.All texts have a distinctive positive element in common and view death as being an organic process within the great system of the universe, for example when Hermann Hesse writes: 'Entreiss dich, Seele, nun der Zeit, entreiss dich deinen Sorgen und mache dich zum Flug bereit in den ersehnten Morgen' ['Tear yourself way , o soul, from time, tear yourself away from your sorrows and prepare yourself to fly away into the long-awaited morning'] and later: 'Und die Seele unbewacht will in freien Flugen schweben, um im Zauberkreis der Nacht tief und tausendfach zu leben' ['And the unfettered soul strives to soar in free flight to live in the magic sphere of the night, deep and thousandfold']. Or Joseph von Eichendorff whose text evokes a distant song in his lines: 'Und meine Seele spannte weit ihre Flugel aus. Flog durch die stillen Lande, als floge sie nach Haus' ['And my soul spread its wings wide. Flew through the still country as if homeward bound.']Here a strong romantically tinged occidental resonance can be detected which is however also accompanied by a universal spirit going far beyond all cultures and religions. In the beginning was the sound Long before any sort of word or meaningful phrase was uttered by vocal chords, sounds, vibrations and tones already existed. This brings us back to the music. Both during my years of study and at subsequent periods, I had been an active participant in the world of contemporary music, both as percussionist and also as conductor and composer. My early scores had a somewhat adventurous appearance, filled with an abundance of small black dots: no rhythm could be too complicated, no register too extreme and no harmony too dissonant. I devoted myself intensely to the handling of different parameters which in serial music coexist in total equality: I also studied aleatory principles and so-called minimal music.I subsequently emigrated and took up residence in Spain from where I embarked on numerous travels over the years to India, Africa and South America. I spent repeated periods during this time as a resident in non-European countries. This meant that the currents of contemporary music swept past me vaguely and at a great distance. What I instead absorbed during this period were other completely new cultures in which I attempted to immerse myself as intensively as possible.I learned foreign languages and came into contact with musicians of all classes and styles who had a different cultural heritage than my own: I was intoxicated with the diversity of artistic potential.Nevertheless, the further I distanced myself from my own Western musical heritage, the more this returned insistently in my consciousness.The scene can be imagined of sitting somewhere in the middle of the Brazilian jungle surrounded by the wailing of Indians and out of the blue being provided with the opportunity to hear Beethoven's late string quartets: this can be a heart-wrenching experience, akin to an identity crisis. This type of experience can also be described as cathartic. Whatever the circumstances, my 'renewed' occupation with the 'old' country would not permit me to return to the point at which I as an audacious young student had maltreated the musical parameters of so-called contemporary music. A completely different approach would be necessary: an extremely careful approach, inching my way gradually back into the Western world: an approach which would welcome tradition back into the fold, attempt to unfurl the petals and gently infuse this tradition with a breath of contemporary life.Although I am aware that I will not unleash a revolution or scandal with this approach, I am nevertheless confident as, with the musical vocabulary of this Requiem, I am travelling in an orbit in which no ballast or complex structures will be transported or intimated: on the contrary, I have attempted to form the message of the texts in music with the naivety of a 'homecomer'. Harald WeissColonia de San PedroMarch 2009.

By William Byrd. Arranged by Johnnie Vinson. MusicWorks Grade 1. Concert Band. Score and full set of parts. Size 9x12 inches. Published by Hal Leonard.