SKU: HL.50486971
ISBN 9781423474982. UPC: 884088393700. 10.5x14.0x0.225 inches.
Selected from the Gayaneh Ballet, these three colorful examples of Aram Khachaturian's writing for ballet are based on rhythms and melodic motives from different ethnic groups, ranging from the very Slavic Ukranian Gopak (Hopak) to the Armenian Dance of the Maidens and the Kurdish Mountaineers' Dance. They vary in instrumental color and tension from festive and party-like, through sultry and romantic, to tense and almost angry. These may be performed in any combination - a single stand-alone dance movement, a contrasting pair, or all three in a complete set. A culturally rich and unique experience for players and audience alike. Dur: 7:45 (Grade 5).
SKU: MH.1-59913-054-8
ISBN 9781599130545.
Royal Coronation Dances is the first sequel to the Fanfare Ode & Festival, both being settings of dance music originally arranged by Gervaise in the mid 16th-century (the next sequel is The Renaissance Fair, which uses music of Susato and Praetorius). Fanfare Ode & Festival has been performed by many tens of thousands of students, both in high school and junior high school. I have heard that some of them are amazed that the music they are playing was first played and danced to over 400 years ago. Some students tend to think that music started with Handel and his Messiah to be followed by Beethoven and his Fifth Symphony, with naught in between or before of consequence. Although Royal Coronation Dances is derived from the same source as Fanfare Ode & Festival, they are treated in different ways. I envisioned this new suite programmatically -- hence the descriptive movement titles, which I imagined to be various dances actually used at some long-ago coronation. The first movement depicts the guests, both noble and common, flanked by flag and banner bearers, arriving at the palace to view the majestic event. They are festive, their flags swirling the air, their cloaks brightly colored. In the second movement, the queen in stately measure moves to take her place on the throne as leader and protector of the realm. In the third movement, the jesters of the court entertain the guests with wild games of sport. Musically, there are interesting sonorities to recreate. Very special attention should be given to the tambourine/tenor drum part in the first movement. Their lively rhythms give the movement its power. Therefore they should be played as distinctly and brilliantly as possible. The xylophone and glockenspiel add clarity, but must not be allowed to dominate. Observe especially the differing dynamics; the intent is to allow much buzzing bass to penetrate. The small drum (starting at meas. 29) should be played expressively, with attention to the notated articulations, with the brass light and detached, especially in a lively auditorium. It is of some further interest that the first dance is extremely modal. The original is clearly in G mixolydian mode (scale: G-A-B-C-D-E-F-G). However, other editors might put in F-sharps in many places (changing the piece almost to G major), in the belief that such ficta would have been automatically put in by the 16th-century performers as they played. I doubt it. I have not only eschewed these within the work, but even at the cadences. So this arrangement is most distinctly modal (listen to the F-naturals in meas. 22 and 23, for instance), with all the part-writing as Gervaise wrote it. In the second movement, be careful that things do not become too glued together. In the 16th century this music might have been played by a consort of recorders, instruments very light of touch and sensitive to articulation. Concert band can easily sound heavy, and although this movement has been scored for tutti band, it must not sound it. It is essential, therefore, that you hear all the instruments, with none predominating. Only when each timbre can be heard separately and simultaneously will the best blend occur, and consequently the greatest transparency. So aim for a transparent, spacious tutti sound in this movement. Especially have the flutes, who do this so well, articulate rather sharply, so as to produce a chiffing sound, and do not allow the quarter-notes to become too tied together in the entire band. The entrance of the drums (first tenor, then bass) are events and as such should be audible. Incidentally, this movement begins in F Major and ends in D Minor: They really didn't care so much about those things then. The third movement (one friend has remarked that it is the most Margolisian of the bunch, but actually I am just getting subtler, I hope) again relies upon the percussion (and the scoring) to make its points. Xylophone in this movement is meant to be distinctly audible. Therefore, be especially sure that the xylophone player is secure in the part, and also that the tambourine and toms sound good. This movement must fly or it will sink, so rev up the band and conduct it in 1 for this mixolydian jesting. I suppose the wildly unrelated keys (clarinets and then brass at the end) would be a good 16th-century joke, but to us, our put-up-the-chorus-a-half-step ears readily accept such shenanigans. Ensemble instrumentation: 1 Full Score, 1 Piccolo, 4 Flute 1, 4 Flute 2 & 3, 2 Oboe 1 & 2, 2 Bassoon 1 & 2, 1 Eb Clarinet, 4 Bb Clarinet 1, 4 Bb Clarinet 2, 4 Bb Clarinet 3, 2 Eb Alto Clarinet, 1 Eb Contra Alto Clarinet, 3 Bb Bass & Bb Contrabass Clarinet, 2 Eb Alto Saxophone 1, 2 Eb Alto Saxophone 2, 2 Bb Tenor Saxophone, 2 Eb Baritone Saxophone, 3 Bb Trumpet 1, 3 Bb Trumpet 2, 3 Bb Trumpet 3, 4 Horn in F 1 & 2, 2 Trombone 1, 4 Trombone 2 & 3, 3 Euphonium (B.C.), 2 Euphonium (T.C.), 4 Tuba, 1 String Bass, 1 Timpani (optional), 2 Xylophone & Glockenspiel, 5 Percussion.
SKU: HL.125963
UPC: 884088993870. 5x5 inches.
A follow up to the popular Red River Dances and Appalachian Dances, this folk setting from the Ozark Mountains is a colorful and creative showcase for young choirs! From the opening ballad, it moves into rollicking dance tunes that will challenge your singers' diction and are super fun to rehearse and perform! Includes Barbara Allen; Arkansas Traveler; Risseldy, Rosseldy. Available separately: 3-Part Mixed, 2-Part, ShowTrax CD. Duration: ca. 3:45.
SKU: PR.11642169L
UPC: 680160692118.
Chinese mythology is a cultural heritage that has been passed down through the ages. It is full of bizarre andsupernatural artistic charm. Shan Hai Jing is like a history book, which contains many mythological stories depictingthousands of mountains and waters, geography and humanities, The Concerto for Orchestra Shan Hai Jing is using alarge scyle orchestra in multi-movements, inspired by the anceint supernatural aesthetics, and creates an imaginaryuniverse and human illusion with an abstract sound world. This work is not based on the story of the ancient gods, butbased on the geographical distribution of the Fivering Mountains, metaphorical waters, mountains range, folkcustoms, and rituals of the gods, depicting the north, west, east, south, and middle respectively in five movements. Thecharacteristics of the mountain system and the regional customs.The first movement, Beishan Jing (Largo) (page 1-30). In this movement, folk music elements such as the traditionalMongolian “Humai” and the traditional Tibetan “Bon’e’ri” are used to Ode the folk customs and heroism of the vastmountains and plains and different ethnic groups.The second movement, Xishan Jing (Allegro and Adagio) (page 31-52). The music of this movement has the westernstyle of Gansu and Qinghai Plateau.The third movement, Dongshan Jing (Adagio and Allegro) (page 53-86). The legend of great bells that ringspontaneously without being struck has origins in the ancient Classic of Mountains and Seas, in which we read:“Upon the Mountains of Plenty, Nine Bells ring with Knowledge of the Frost.”Tales of those blasts of wind that pulse like a heartbeat through caverns in the limestone cliffs, setting off a mysterioussympathetic ringing from bells encrusted in frost, led to “Frost-Bell” becoming a word during the Tang dynasty, almosta millennium after the Mountains and Seas classic first appeared.The fourth movement, Nanshan Jing (Adagio and Andante) (page 87-100) . The music is characterized by thewoodwinds and string harmonics texture depicting of the cloud mountain in the south of the Yangtze River, Fujian,Guangdong and Hunan.The fifth movement, Zhongshan Jing (Allegretto) (page 101-118) symbolizes the end of the ritual ceremony, which isroughly centered on the sacred place of Chu. The people danced together, waving flowers and hitting the bronze drums,just like sending the Divine Comedy, the scene is lively, the atmosphere is Solemn and lively.
SKU: PR.11642169S
UPC: 680160692101.
SKU: CL.SCM-1094-00
This retro swing style piece will be enjoyed by students, parents and grandparents and will be great in a concert format or a senior citizen dance popular at many schools. It really swings and it’s fun to play. Written solos. Written ranges: Trp. 1 (Bb) , Trb. (F) , Alto (B).
SKU: CL.SCM-1094-01
SKU: MH.1-59913-063-7
ISBN 9781599130637.
SKU: MH.183794
SKU: MH.183794-SCORE