Still, My Soul, Be Still - Orchestral Score and Parts

SKU: 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.

SKU: HL.4007849

UPC: 196288105480.

This piece comprises a series of variations on the melody of “Ami, dans cette vie” (“Friend, in this life”), an 18th century French song. Like the famous poem “Canzona de Bacco” by Lorenzo de' Medici, this song invites the listener to enjoy life, friendships, love and wine while there is still time to do so. The epicurean nature of this text contrasts with a deeply melancholic melody, a contradiction which is explored in the present work. After a somewhat turbulent first part, the original melody is revealed in a serene and pensive middle section which highlights several soloists. In the last movement, the atmosphere is transformed to become increasingly exuberant, like a Bacchus incantation. The piece concludes with a final dazzling statement of the original theme. Canzona di Bacco was commissioned by the Vesoul Municipal Wind Band, who premiered the work on 24 June 2022 at the Edwige Feuillère Theatre in Vesoul (France), under the direction of Mathieu Anguenot.

SKU: CF.CPS226

ISBN 9781491152522. UPC: 680160910021.

Inspired by the memory of an influential music educator, Carol Brittin Chambers has woven a multitude of grooves, colors, and uplifting themes into To Create a Voice. Chambers has attempted to convey distinct moods and emotions that this educator tried to instill in his students. In honor of this dynamic teacher, you will hear Hot Cross Buns cleverly placed throughout the composition.
To Create a Voice was commissioned by the Valley Concert Band in Stockton, California. The piece premiered in October 2017, in memory and celebration of Chris Anderson, a local musician and educator.When writing this piece, I tried to convey certain moods and emotions throughout: soulful at the beginning with calm woodwind chords and solo trombone; increased energy throughout the various sections of the piece; exploration of different grooves and colors; an uplifting, emotional ending that leaves the listener with a sense of how positive and loving Chris was.This piece is largely inspired by a specific quote from Chris:Most people would consider the sounds students first make on their instruments to be cringe-worthy, but to me that’s music to my ears, because that’s the first time students put a voice to their instrument. Over time those voices become stronger; they become clear, more confident, and get to a point where they use those voices to communicate with each other, and to their audiences.To relate to the first notes on the instrument idea, I used motifs based on the first notes most beginners ever play, do-re-mi, which are introduced at the beginning of the piece with the trombone solo, Chris’ instrument. During the section at m. 15, the brass introduce a chorale that I named Chris’ Theme while the woodwinds keep reminding us of do-re-mi. Later in the piece (mm. 71 and 79), I use these notes again, but in reverse, which becomes a reference to the first song most beginners learn, Hot Cross Buns. This section is also meant to portray Chris’ quirky and joking side. In mm. 75 and 83, Chris’ Theme presents itself again a couple of times in response to Hot Cross Buns.Toward the end, at the uplifting moment (m. 97), do-re-mi is heard again, but this time in harmony with mi-fa-sol. This represents the ultimate satisfaction we all feel as musicians when we have finally progressed enough to play in harmony with others. The half-time feeling in 3 at that moment also has significance, relating (rhythmically) to those important three notes again.I really hope you enjoy performing and listening to this piece as much as I have enjoyed creating it!

SKU: TM.03104SET

Score in set. Extracted from the orchestration by A. Luck.

SKU: CL.012-4495-01

This prolific composer has penned many beautiful, dramatic, and emotional works. On this occasion, he has created a hymn setting that is highly reflective and musically very powerful. While the band parts certainly stand on their own, optional use of antiphonal trumpets, organ, and choir are included should you desire to provide your audience with a spectacular performance that won’t soon be forgotten. This is truly a very inspirational work. Very Impressive!

SKU: BT.AMP-158-010

9x12 inches. English-German-French-Dutch.

The Battell was written during the late 14th Century when England was in a mood of national celebration after victory over the Spanish and French Armadas.The movement which Byrd called Marche Before The Battell became known as The Earl of Oxford?s Marchand it appears with that title in an early manuscript copy of the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book.Written while Byrd was at the height of his powers, it still stirs the soul to this day. A perfect opener for your concert performances.

My Lady Nevells Book uit 1591 bevat een aantal werken van William Byrd die waarschijnlijk waren gecomponeerd in de 25 jaren daarvoor, inclusief de verhalende suite The Battell. De programmatische muziek van The Battellis zeldzaam in Byrds oeuvre, dat vooral bestaat uit vaste muzikale vormen, zoals gaillardes en pavanes. Het werk is vermoedelijk geschreven na 1588, toen Engeland in een overwinningsroes verkeerde na de zege op de Spaanseen Franse Armada’s. Het deel dat Byrd Marche Before The Battell noemde, werd bekend als The Earl of Oxford’s March, hoewel het niet geheel duidelijk is waarom. Deze muziek, die Byrd schreef in zijn hoogtijdagen, isnog altijd treffend.

Der Notendruck kam spät nach England. Viele Spieler kopierten die Musik von Hand, wohlhabende Familien ließen sie sich von einem Schreiber kopieren. Solch eine frühe Ausgabe war My Lady Nevells Book, das u.a. die deskriptive Suite The Battell enthält. Der Satz, den Byrd mit Marche Before the Battel überschrieb wurde als The Earl of Oxford’s March bekannt. Das Stück, das zur Blütezeit von Byrds Schaffenskraft entstand, bewegt noch heute die Gemüter. Eine perfekte Eröffnung für Ihr Konzert.

Questo brano di musica a programma è unico nella produzione di William Byrd che comprende soprattutto grounds, gagliarde e pavane. The Battell - dal quale è tratto The Earl of Oxford’s March (o Marche Before the Battle), fu composto probabilmente dopo il 1588, ai tempi in cui l’Inghilterra era particolarmente incline ai festeggiamenti nazionali dopo la vittoria sulle flotte spagnole e francesi. Questo brano, scritto quando William Bryd era all’apice della gloria, continua a commuovere.

SKU: BT.AMP-158-140

9x12 inches. English-German-French-Dutch.

The Battell was written during the late 14th Century when England was in a mood of national celebration after victory over the Spanish and French Armadas.The movement which Byrd called Marche Before The Battell became known as The Earl of Oxford?s Marchand it appears with that title in an early manuscript copy of the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book.Written while Byrd was at the height of his powers, it still stirs the soul to this day. A perfect opener for your concert performances.

My Lady Nevells Book uit 1591 bevat een aantal werken van William Byrd die waarschijnlijk waren gecomponeerd in de 25 jaren daarvoor, inclusief de verhalende suite The Battell. De programmatische muziek van The Battellis zeldzaam in Byrds oeuvre, dat vooral bestaat uit vaste muzikale vormen, zoals gaillardes en pavanes. Het werk is vermoedelijk geschreven na 1588, toen Engeland in een overwinningsroes verkeerde na de zege op de Spaanseen Franse Armada’s. Het deel dat Byrd Marche Before The Battell noemde, werd bekend als The Earl of Oxford’s March, hoewel het niet geheel duidelijk is waarom. Deze muziek, die Byrd schreef in zijn hoogtijdagen, isnog altijd treffend.

Der Notendruck kam spät nach England. Viele Spieler kopierten die Musik von Hand, wohlhabende Familien ließen sie sich von einem Schreiber kopieren. Solch eine frühe Ausgabe war My Lady Nevells Book, das u.a. die deskriptive Suite The Battell enthält. Der Satz, den Byrd mit Marche Before the Battel überschrieb wurde als The Earl of Oxford’s March bekannt. Das Stück, das zur Blütezeit von Byrds Schaffenskraft entstand, bewegt noch heute die Gemüter. Eine perfekte Eröffnung für Ihr Konzert.

Questo brano di musica a programma è unico nella produzione di William Byrd che comprende soprattutto grounds, gagliarde e pavane. The Battell - dal quale è tratto The Earl of Oxford’s March (o Marche Before the Battle), fu composto probabilmente dopo il 1588, ai tempi in cui l’Inghilterra era particolarmente incline ai festeggiamenti nazionali dopo la vittoria sulle flotte spagnole e francesi. Questo brano, scritto quando William Bryd era all’apice della gloria, continua a commuovere.