SKU: AP.42075

UPC: 038081472089. English.

This blast to the past will motivate, captivate, and elevate your students with old school '60s soul sound, an infectious, danceable rhythm, and a triumphant finish. Written in 12/8, the tune begins with a ballad-like introduction for solo cello and then moves around the sections. Each instrument has a chance to improvise or solo in the written-out solo section. Authentic sounding riffs, complete with grace notes and a shout chorus, add to the fun of compound meter rock. A sure audience pleaser and a terrific end to a concert or first half! (1:10).

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: 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: CF.YAS244

ISBN 9781491164969. UPC: 680160923878. Key: E minor.

Fossils and Finale combines two of the better-known movements from the humorous Carnival of the Animals. This  fourteen-movement suite by Camille Saint-Saëns featured musical depictions of animals such as The Swan and The Elephant, and was written for a private performance with young students in mind. While the composer didn't feel it was serious enough to be performed during his lifetime, it has since gone on to become a beloved classical-musical favorite. In this arrangement, the quirky Fossils with optional xylophone is written to be more accessible for intermediate students, segueing seamlessly into the circus-like Finale. Both movements feature bright, fun melodies within playable ranges and keys for the developing ensemble and the original piano part integrated into the string parts.

About Carl Fischer Young String Orchestra Series

This series of Grade 2/Grade 2.5 pieces is designed for second and third year ensembles. The pieces in this series are characterized by:
--Occasionally extending to third position
--Keys carefully considered for appropriate difficulty
--Addition of separate 2nd violin and viola parts
--Viola T.C. part included
--Increase in independence of parts over beginning levels

SKU: CL.012-4466-75

This unique work is a tribute to the legacy of legendary humorist, newspaper columnist, social commentator, and stage and motion picture actor Will Rogers. Although Rogers never met a man he didn't like, his wit earned him a colorful reputation as a political renegade and public favorite. The music contrasts the serious and satirical sides of Rogers and presents your performing ensemble with lyrical, rhythmic, and metrical challenges. This one has great appeal which is sure to make it a favorite of both your performers and audiences!

SKU: BT.AMP-142-020

9x12 inches.

Over a period of four decades Jimmy Webb (b. 1946) has written hits for a number of singers including Glen Campbell, Art Garfunkel, Frank Sinatra, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Linda Ronstadt. His songs are often epic in character and include By the Time I Get to Phoenix; Up, Up and Away; Didn’t We; Wichita Lineman and Galveston. MacArthur Park (1968) was unlike anything that had gone before it. Running at over 7 minutes, it is 2 or 3 times the length of most pop songs and has an extended orchestral interlude. Richard Harris’ seminal recording topped the music charts in Europe, while peaking at number two on the U.S. charts. Philip Sparke has made this excellentarrangement for fanfare band, which is sure to become a regular feature on your concert programme.

MacArthur Park van Jimmy Webb, een nummer dat uitkwam in 1968, was niet te vergelijken met alles wat daarvoor was gemaakt. Met een duur van meer dan zeven minuten is deze song twee of drie keer zo lang als de meeste popsongs,ook het orkestraal tussenspel is bijzonder. Richard Harris’ originele opname stond bovenaan in de hitparades van Europa en op nummer 2 in de Verenigde Staten. Philip Sparke schreef een fantastisch arrangement dat zowel uw muzikantenals uw publiek zal aanspreken.

Jimmy Webbs Musik kennt jeder: sei es als Musik zur Fernsehserie Emergency Room oder als einen der Hits von großen Stars wie Frank Sinatra, Johnny Cash, Linda Ronstadt und vielen anderen. Mit dem Popsong MacArthur Park gelang Webb ein Riesenhit im Jahr 1968. Das Lied über eine verlorene Liebe ist ungewöhnlich lang für einen Popsong und enthält ein ausgearbeitetes Orchester-Zwischenspiel. Grund genug für Philip Sparke, diesen Hit für Blasorchester zu bearbeiten.

Pendant plus de quarante ans, Jimmy Webb (1946) a composé des chansons succès pour divers artistes tels que Glen Campbell, Art Garfunkel, Frank Sinatra, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash et Linda Ronstadt. En 1968, il écrit MacArthur Park, une chanson complètement novatrice. D’une durée de plus de sept minutes, elle est deux trois fois plus longue que la plupart des succès pop et contient un grand interlude orchestral. La version d’anthologie de MacArthur Park, interprétée et enregistrée par Richard Harris, s’est classée en tête des hit-parades européens et numéro 2 aux États-Unis.

Per oltre quarant’anni, Jimmy Webb (1946) ha composto canzoni di successo per artisti come Glen Campbell, Art Garfunkel, Frank Sinatra, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash e Linda Ronstadt. Nel 1968, scrive MacArthur Park, una canzone totalmente innovativa. Di una durata di oltre sette minuti, è da due a tre volte più lunga della gran parte dei successi pop e contiene un interludio orchestrale. La versione d’antologia di MacArthur Park, interpretata e incisa da Richard Harris è stata in testa alle hit-parades europee e n. 2 negli Stati Uniti.