Arranged by Jerry Westenkuehler. For handbell choir (3-5 octaves). Christmas. Level 2. Handbell score. 12 pages. Published by Hope Publishing Company

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.

Arranged by James Curnow. For String Orchestra (Score and Parts). Easy Music For Strings. Grade 2. Published by Hal Leonard

Composed by Deborah Baker Monday. For string orchestra. Christmas/Holiday. Grade 1. Score and set of parts. Duration 1:54. Published by Wingert-Jones Publications

Composed by Alan Bullard (1947-). Christmas Songs and Carols - Mixed Voices. Christmas. Vocal score. 12 pages. Duration 2'. Oxford University Press #9780193364998. Published by Oxford University Press

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.

Handbell Ensemble

SKU: HP.3007

Arranged by Karissa Dennis. Ring with 6. Hymn Arrangements, Funeral & Memorial, Christmas, Lent, Thanksgiving, General Worship, Faith & Faithfulness, God, Grace, Gratefulness, Hope, Joy, Love, Mercy, Adoration & Praise, Worship. Handbell score. 20 pages. Hope Publishing Company #3007. Published by Hope Publishing Company (HP.3007).

UPC: 763628130078.

Volum e 3 in the Ring w/6 Year-Round Series The latest in our series for 6 ringers. These 8 arrangements can be played by only 6 people. Because there are more than 12 bells used in each piece, there is more harmonic diversity and tables may be necessary. A perfect set to provide a year of music with a smaller ensemble.

For String Orchestra. String Orchestra. Highland String Orchestra. Level: 2.5 (grade 2.5). Score. 16 pages. Published by Alfred Publishing.

Composed by Peter Wilhousky. Arranged by Bill Calhoun. For string orchestra. Score and parts. Duration 2 minutes, 4 seconds. Published by Carl Fischer

Composed by Traditional. Arranged by Robert W. Smith. Orchestra. String Orchestra. Belwin Concert String Orchestra. Christmas; Winter. Grade 3.5. Conductor Score and Parts. 164 pages. Duration 5:56. Published by Belwin Music

Arranged by Rick England. String Orchestra. String Alternatives. Novelty. Score. 32 pages. Published by Alfred Music (AP.29754S).

(Featuring: I Saw Three Ships / Ding! Dong! Merrily on High / I Heard the Bells of Christmas Day / Ukrainian Bell Carol). Arranged by Douglas E. Wagner. Concert Band. Concert Band; Part(s); Score. Belwin Concert Band. Form: Medley. Christmas; Sacred; Winter. Grade 3. 240 pages. Published by Belwin Music

Vocal songbook for SATB choir. With vocal score. 80 pages. Published by Hal Leonard.

(Bass Section Feature). Arranged by Bob Phillips. Orchestra. Part(s); Score; String Orchestra. Sound Innovations for Strings. Christmas; Winter. Grade 1. 72 pages. Published by Alfred Music

Compatible with any and all instruments in this series for trios. Composed by Mykola D. Leontovich / Peter J. Wilhousky. Arranged by Larry Clark. Performance score. With Standard notation. 4 pages. Carl Fischer #MXE0090. Published by Carl Fischer (CF.MXE90).

For Him all Stars. (15 Carols for Upper Voices). For Upper voices (SSA) accompanied and a cappella (Ring the bells: 2 flutes, oboe (optional), 2 clarinets, bassoon (optional), 2 horns, trumpet, 2 trombones (optional), glockenspiel (optional), harp/piano (optional), strings; Love came down at Christmas: Strings Scots Nativity (brass): 2 trumpets, horn, t). Upper Voices. Christmas, Choral Collection. Vocal score. 88 pages. Published by Oxford University Press

By Traditional. Arranged by Michael Hopkins. For string orchestra. Concert String Orchestra Series. Christmas. Grade 3. Score and set of parts. Duration 2:30. Published by Kendor Music Inc

Band Bass Clarinet, Bass Drum, Bassoon, Bells, Chimes, Clarinet 1, Clarinet 2, Clarinet 3, Crash Cymbals, Euphonium, Euphonium T.C., Flute, Gong, Horn 1, Horn 2, Horn 3, Horn 4, Mallet Percussion, Marimba, Oboe, Percussion 1, Percussion 2 and more. - Grade 4

SKU: CF.SPS95

December 7, 1941. Composed by Christina Huss R. Alan Carter. Sps. Set of Score and Parts. 2+16+4+8+8+8+4+4+4+4+4+4+ 6+6+6+4+4+4+4+6+6+6+6+4+6 +6+2+4+8+2+28 pages. Duration 6 minutes, 45 seconds. Carl Fischer Music #SPS95. Published by Carl Fischer Music (CF.SPS95).

ISBN 9781491161302. UPC: 680160919895.

Writt en to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the surprise attack on the American Pacific Fleet, Remembering Pearl Harbor is a stirring tribute honoring the heroes of the date which will live in infamy- December 7, 1941. Like flying over the Pacific, the opening bars seemingly soar back in time. The composition takes the listener on a moving journey from the precarious moments before the fateful attack, through the air strike and resulting aftermath. The musical voyage begins with chimes, signifying the hour of the attack that Sunday morning, developing into the heroic main theme representing the Spirit of America. A rousing version of Anchors Aweigh takes us to the naval base at Pearl Harbor and the activities of the day. By the end of Anchors Aweigh, the mood seems to change, foreshadowing the fate of the U.S. fleet. Next, the haunting theme of the Japanese National Anthem is heard and the distant sound of propellers as they approach. When the planes arrive, the battle rages until there is total destruction. Countless people lost their lives on this tragic day. The playing of Taps and the Navy Hymn, Eternal Father, Strong to Save is presented as an homage to those who perished. Following this solemn moment, the American spirit begins to rise as they come together to defeat the enemy. As the U.S. triumphs in the end, we hear fragments of many American tunes depicting the strength and resilience of the American People. You may want to consider using portions of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's famous speech to enhance your performance. The following sections are suggested: Measure 46: Yesterday, December 7th, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by the naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan. Measure 83: The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost. Measure 105: No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory..
Written to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the surprise attack on the American Pacific Fleet, Remembering Pearl Harbor is a stirring tribute honoring the heroes of the “date which will live in infamy”- December 7, 1941. Like flying over the Pacific, the opening bars seemingly soar back in time. The composition takes the listener on a moving journey from the precarious moments before the fateful attack, through the air strike and resulting aftermath.The musical voyage begins with chimes, signifying the hour of the attack that Sunday morning, developing into the heroic main theme representing the Spirit of America. A rousing version of Anchors Aweigh takes us to the naval base at Pearl Harbor and the activities of the day. By the end of Anchors Aweigh, the mood seems to change, foreshadowing the fate of the U.S. fleet.  Next, the haunting theme of the Japanese National Anthem is heard and the distant sound of propellers as they approach. When the planes arrive, the battle rages until there is total destruction. Countless people lost their lives on this tragic day. The playing of Taps and the Navy Hymn, Eternal Father, Strong to Save is presented as an homage to those who perished.Following this solemn moment, the American spirit begins to rise as they come together to defeat the enemy. As the U.S. triumphs in the end, we hear fragments of many American tunes depicting the strength and resilience of the American People.You may want to consider using portions of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s famous speech to enhance your performance.  The following sections are suggested:Measure 46: “Yesterday, December 7th, 1941 – a date which will live in infamy – the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by the naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.”Measure 83: “The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost.”Measure 105: “No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.”.