SKU: PR.11641373L

UPC: 680160680337.

The concerto has always seemed an especially attractive medium to me, not necessarily because of its expectations of virtuosity (although flaunting it when you've got it certainly has its place), and emphatically not because of the perception of a concerto as a contest, but because so much of what I write feels song-like; I'm very much at home with the age-old texture of melody and accompaniment. I hope, before I move on, to have the opportunity to write concertos for all the major instruments, and perhaps some of the rarer ones as well. The oboe is not only one of the major instruments, it is one of my favorite instruments. I've always loved its sound, but since moving to New York I have gotten to hear and, in some cases, know some extremely fine oboists who broadened my appreciation of the instrument's possibilities. I especially remember a concert, probably in the late 1960's, in which Humbert Lucarelli played a Handel concerto, filling out large melodic leaps with cascading scale passages in a way that raised the hair on the back of your neck, somewhat in the way that John Coltrane's sheets of sound did. The sweeping scales in the second movement of my concerto were definitely inspired by Bert Lucarelli's performance. The first, third and fifth movements of the Concerto for Oboe and Orchestra are song-like, whereas the second and fourth have strong scherzo and dance qualities, including a couple of sections that sound like out-and-out pirate dances to me. The hymn-like tune at the beginning of the middle movement was originally begun as a vocal piece to be sung by my wife, son and daughter at my brother's wedding, but I couldn't come up with good works for it, so it ended up as an instrumental chant. The opening and closing of the concerto make use of the oboe's uniquely soulful singing. I had not heard Pamela Woods Pecha's solo playing in person when she approached me about writing a concerto, but I had heard her fine recording of chamber music for oboe and strings by the three B's (English, that is: Bliss, Bax and Britten) with the Audubon Quartet. I actually already had some oboe concerto ideas in my sketchbooks; although I didn't end up using any of those earlier ideas, it's interesting that most of them tended to share the general feeling and tonality of the eventual opening of the concerto. The work was completed on October 13, 1994. I hate the compromises involved in making piano reductions -- perhaps I would feel differently if I were a more accomplished pianist -- so I often decide to make piano reductions for four hands rather than two. My good friend Jon Kimura Parker is a terrific sight-reader, and I roped him into coming over to my place on February 17, 1995, to help me accompany Pamela on the first read-through of the piece. The first performance of the work took place on July 21, 1995, at the American Music Festival in Duncan, Oklahoma, with Mark Parker conducting the Festival Orchestra.

SKU: HL.44007325

UPC: 884088245221. 9.0x12.0x0.173 inches. English-German-French-Dutch.

Colorado Springs was commissioned by the United States Air Force Academy Band, Lieutenant Steve Grimo, Commmander/Conductor. Colorado Springs, home of the USAF Academy, is set in spectacular landscape towards the southern end of the Rocky Mountains and is a popular tourist resort for skiing and hiking. The Academy plays an important part in the life of the area and serves as a base for the USAFA Band, one of the professional bands forming part of the musical life of the U.S. Air Force. The suite is in three movements: 1. The Springs (fanfare) - The Springs is the local residents' name for the town, and this first movement starts with a stirring fanfare for brass and percussion, opening with bold unison horns. The rest of the brass join in and woodwind add decorative figures. After a short change of style, the opening material reappears to close the movement. 2. Seven Falls - Seven Falls is a spectacular waterfall near to the town which cascades 181 feet in seven distinct steps down a solid cliff of pikes peak granite. In this movement, high woodwinds describe the sparkling water as it descends to a popular lookout post near the bottom of the falls. 3. Pikes Peak - To the north-west of the town and reaching an altitude 14,110 feet, Pikes Peak is the farthest east of the big peaks in the Rocky Mountain chain, which contributed to its early fame among explorers and pioneers, and made it the symbol of the 1859 Gold Rush to Colorado with the slogan, Pikes Peak or Bust. It is the second-most visited mountain in the world behind Japan's Mount Fuji. This atmospheric movement describes the majesty of the mountain and is based around the fanfare from the first movement. Opening on a solitary bassoon, it is not long before the main theme appears under bubbling woodwinds. The music reaches a passionate climax at which point the opening fanfare reappears to bring the whole work to a close.

SKU: BT.DHP-1165658-030

English-German-French-Dutch.

Dedicated to the North American Brass Band Association, this is music that is full of energy and dynamic extremes. In form it draws from the overture style, although the themes are self-existing and the piece is programmatic. Working well asa festival opener, it sets a mood of excitement. Following the rhythmic fanfares of the opening, the first theme is presented in the cornets followed by a return to the same rhythmic material. A second theme appears in the horn section and isdeveloped, changing into a darker and sinister form of the same motif. Eventually a Maestoso section is reached, full of sustained block chords in the cornets and trombones, as the rest of the band counters with cascading lines that weavestraight through the brighter instruments.

Dit levendige werk vol dynamische uitersten is opgedragen aan de North American Brass Band Association. Qua vorm is het geënt op de ouverturestijl, hoewel de thema’s op zichzelf staan en het een programmatische compositie betreft. Het is heelgeschikt voor de opening van een festival, want het creëert een enthousiaste, verwachtingsvolle stemming. Na de ritmische fanfares van de opening wordt het eerste thema gepresenteerd in de cornetten, gevolgd door een terugkeer naar hetzelfderitmische materiaal. Er verschijnt een tweede thema in de hoornsectie, dat wordt doorontwikkeld en overgaat in een duistere en onheilspellende vorm van hetzelfde motief. Uiteindelijk komt er een maestoso gedeelte tot stand, vol aangehouden akkoordenin de kornetten en trombones, waarbij de rest van het orkest dalende lijnen produceert die door de helder klinkende instrumenten heen zijn geweven.

Dieses Musikstück, das voller Energie und von extremer Dynamik geprägt ist, wurde der North American Brass Band Association gewidmet. Der formale Aufbau des Werkes orientiert sich an einer Ouvertüre, auch wenn die Themen für sich selbst stehenund das Stück programmatisch ist. Es eignet sich gut als Eröffnungsstück für ein Festival, da es das Publikum begeistern wird. Auf den Fanfarenrhythmus der Einleitung folgt das erste Thema, das von den Kornetten vorgestellt wird und schließlich zumursprünglichen rhythmischen Material zurückkehrt. Das zweite Thema wird von den Hörnern gespielt und weiterentwickelt, wobei das gleiche Motiv in eine dunklere und unheimlichere Stimmung wechselt. Danach erklingt ein Maestoso-Teil mit Akkordblöckenin den Kornetten und Posaunen, während das restliche Orchester kaskadenartige Melodielinien spielt, die sich durch die helleren Instrumente schlängeln.

Dédiée la North American Brass Band Association, cette œuvre est pleine d’énergie et de dynamiques extrêmes. En dépit de sa forme d’ouverture, les thèmes ne sont pas liés et l’œuvre est programme. Convient comme pièce d’ouverture defestival et crée une ambiance d’enthousiasme. Suite aux fanfares rythmiques du début, le premier thème est présenté par les cornets piston, suivi par un retour au même matériel rythmique. Un deuxième thème apparaît dans le registre des cors et estdéveloppé, se changeant en une version plus sombre et sinistre du même motif. Finalement on arrive une section de Maestoso, qui contient de nombreuses double-cordes soutenues chez les cornets et trombones, tandis que le reste de l’ensemblerépond par des lignes descendantes qui se tissent travers les instruments plus aigus.

SKU: AP.49122S

UPC: 038081563565. English.

This version of Ride Through the Valley by Chris Bernotas is part of our Alfred FLEX offerings and is designed with maximum flexibility for use by any mix of instruments---wind, strings, and percussion, including like- or mixed-ensembles with as few as 5 players. The suggested instrumentation and a customizable Teacher Map will help you plan out how to best assign parts to suit your ensemble's needs. It also comes with supplemental parts for maximum flexibility. With the purchase of this piece, permission is granted to photocopy the parts as needed for your ensemble. A percussion accompaniment track is also available as a free download. String parts have been carefully edited with extra fingerings and appropriate bowings to support students in mixed ensembles playing in less familiar keys.

The fast-paced opening of Bernotas' Ride Through the Valley builds momentum, leading to a bright and tuneful main theme. A lyrical contrasting section follows featuring a warmth of colors enhanced by vibraphone and gracefully cascading arpeggiated pyramids. A brief transition leads to a return of the main theme including a key change, bringing the piece to a driving conclusion. (4:26)

Percussion Accompaniment Track Downloads:
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This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.

SKU: AP.48131S

UPC: 038081554464. English.

A fast-paced opening builds momentum leading to a bright and tuneful main theme. A lyrical contrasting section follows featuring a warmth of colors enhanced by vibraphone and gracefully cascading arpeggiated pyramids. A brief transition leads to a return of the main theme including a key change, bringing the piece to a driving conclusion. (4:20) This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.

SKU: AP.46670S

ISBN 9781470652685. UPC: 038081533056. English.

Highlighting the falls as it cascades over rocky terrain, sparkling wind and brass fanfares depict the water as it rushes forward before exploding over the edge. Melodic lines transport the audience into the mysterious and rapturous wilderness as this remarkable piece evokes one of nature's must glorious creations. This title available in MakeMusic Cloud.

SKU: HL.48023097

UPC: 884088967956. 9.0x12.0x0.074 inches.

As One Listens to the Rain is a marriage of two distinct musical ideas. The first, a solitary, solemn melody, is introduced in the trumpet and cloaked in an aura of slowly shifting transparent harmonies. This idea soon gives way to flowing lines and falling gestures that invoke an image of cascading rainfall. A hymn-like interlude provides a brief respite before the return of the rain which, in this final form, spins and tumbles over itself. A stirring and evocative work for modern winds. Dur: 6:30.

SKU: CF.CFD3

ISBN 9780825853487. UPC: 798408053482.

An excellent ensemble (Trade Winds) in their premier recording of old and new band classics featuring the music of Larry Clark, Percy Grainger, Robert Thurston, Carl Strommen, Sean O'Loughlin and others. Includes: Ascendance, The Tell-Tale Heart, Sonic Fusion, Molly on the Shore, Shoutin' Liza Trombone, Morning, Noon and Night in Vienna, Cloudsplitter, Bacchanale, Cascades and Quaere Verum.

SKU: AP.36-A151902

UPC: 660355031649. English.

Written by Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg (1843-1907) in 1868, the Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16 is the only concerto completed by Grieg. It remains one of his most popular works and is among the most popular concerti for piano in the repertoire. Similar to, and perhaps influenced by, Robert Schumann's Piano Concerto, the work also provides some evidence of Grieg's interest in Norwegian folk music, with the cascading motif of a falling minor second followed by a falling major third in the opening flourish typical to the folk music of the composer's native country. Recorded by Wilhelm Backhaus in 1909, this piano concerto is the first to ever be recorded, albeit heavily abridged to only six minutes due to technological limitations. Instrumentation: 2(2dPicc).2.2.2: 4.2.3.0: Timp: Str (9-8-7-6-5 in set): Solo Piano.

These products are currently being prepared by a new publisher. While many items are ready and will ship on time, some others may see delays of several months.

SKU: XC.HJE2302FS

This exquisite ballad features the whole ensemble. Beautiful harmony and flowing melodic lines make this a perfect down tune for a concert or festival. There is a short, written solo for Alto Sax that is accompanied by bell-tone cascades in the brass.

SKU: FJ.B1568S

English.

The sounds of ancient Mexico come alive in this thrilling work with powerful percussion writing to tell the story of this Mayan city at the peak of its power. Following a chaotic opening, the piece weaves artfully through a series of cascading bell-tone passages with clashing harmonies. An ideal way to introduce students to mild dissonance in an intense and epic work!

About FJH Beginning Band

Appropriate within the first year of instruction and beginning of the second year. Clarinets do not go above the break, and there is limited use of accidentals. Plenty of doublings in the lower voices. Grade 1.