SKU: UT.HS-303

ISBN 9790215327016. 9 x 12 inches.

This two-volume anthology has been designed on the living experience of teaching as material intended for descant recorder players at the beginner and intermediate level. The progressive order allows an approach to ensemble music, starting from the use of just the notes of the left hand, and proceeds with the acquisition of the new positions reaching the chromatic range of an octave and a sixth.
The repertoire used consists exclusively of dance music from the French and Flemish area contained in various collections published between 1530 and 1583 by various composers and editors. This choice was dictated by a number of different factors: the extremely clear and symmetrical metric and formal schemes typical of the Renaissance dance form, with due and useful exceptions, help to understand the concept of musical phrase; the use of coded and recurring rhythmic formulas makes it possible to perfect the rhythmic division; harmony based mostly on the basic steps helps to form an experience of listening, intonation and understanding of the main harmonic functions. No less significant are other elements, such as variety in the length of the pieces, from a few bars up to several dozen, which favours the development of concentration and attention, with the same technical difficulties. Above all, however, the vastness of the repertoire, more than 500 compositions, makes it possible to choose and order the pieces with an idea of ​​technical and musical progressiveness comparable to that of a method.
The edition is produced in such a way that all the pieces can be performed in four parts except for some in five parts, in different ensembles. The most basic is in reduced three-part form of descant, tenor and bass, the latter two are given respectively to the right and left hand of the keyboard player. Since recorders play at the octave above, the tenor part is also transposed in the same way to make the sound of the three upper voices homogeneous, while the bass retains its original range. It is also possible to enlarge the group to play the full four voices with the addition of an alto or tenor recorder playing the alto part, available in the separate part, and two more instruments, tenor and bass recorders or others, performing the respective lines alone or doubling with the keyboard.

SKU: PR.11441378S

UPC: 680160585939. 11 x 14 inches.

Commissione d by Network for New Music, who premiered the work in April 2008, with support from Philadelphia Music Project, an Artistic Initiative of The Pew Charitable Trusts, administered by the University of the Arts.
“Song and Dance” began its life as a nascent melody in the late eighties, employing a similar motivic cell as did three of my works written over a period of several years — East Wind, String Quartet No. 2 (Vistas), and Mirage.  At the ore of these three works is the simplest of melodic kernels — a note encircled by its two neighboring tones (and more specifically, a half step above and whole step below).  At the time, I envisioned writing a work for voice, oboe, and marimba, and had just begun it, only to drop it in favor of more pressing compositional assignments. Almost twenty years later, the vocal fragment finally evolved into the “song” of this work, played here by the soprano saxophone.  But it seems that the song, all these years, had been waiting for its counterpart, a dance.  Singing and dancing are two of humankind’s most basic and essential impulses, transcending time and place, reaching back to the earliest civilizations. The resulting composition, “Song and Dance”, moves back and forth between the two, delineating its various parts further with the use of both soprano and alto saxophones, partnered by mallet percussion instruments — mostly vibraphone and marimba, with bells added at the very end of the work.  The song portions return to the same melody, varied and evolved over time, as new materials are introduced in the dance sections, affecting the presentation of the recurring song music. My thanks to the Network for New Music for commissioning this work and allowing me the freedom to choose its format and instrumentation.—Shulam it Ran.

SKU: HL.278488

ISBN 9781540029997. UPC: 888680753689. 9.0x12.0x0.264 inches.

The Deluxe Guitar Play-Along series will help you play songs faster than ever before with accurate, easy-to-read guitar tab and professional, customizable play-along audio for 15 songs. The interactive, online audio interface includes tempo/pitch control, looping, buttons to turn instruments on or off, and guitar tab with follow-along marker. The tracks can be streamed or downloaded and played offline. This volume features 15 favorites: Ain't No Sunshine * All Along the Watchtower * Bad Moon Rising * Beverly Hills * Can't You See * Evil Ways * I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For * The Joker * Just the Way You Are * Ring of Fire * Stir It Up * Twist and Shout * What I Got * What's Up * Wicked Game.

About Hal Leonard Guitar Play-Along Series

The Guitar Play-Along Series will help you play your favorite songs quickly and easily. Just follow the tab, listen to the CD to hear how the guitar should sound, and then play along using the seperate backing tracks. The melody and lyrics are also included in the book in case you want to sing, or to simply help you follow along.