Dan Welcher’s most enduringly and frequently played orchestral work, Prairie Light is a fascinating musical companion to three of Georgia O’Keeffe’s most unusual paintings, Light Coming on the Plains, Canyon with Crows, and Starlight Night. This work is ideal for performances using visual projections of the paintings, and is frequently programmed for subscription concerts as well as those for educational settings. Duration: 14’ Parts available on rental.
This work for full orchestra was inspired by three paintings of the noted Americanartist Georgia O’Keeffe. These three watercolors were done in 1917 while the artist was living in Canyon, Texas (near Amarillo), and deal primarily with color and shape. Consequently, the music is primarily concerned with broad lines and shapes rather than rhythms, with subtle washes of color rather than constant harmonic movement, and with arching melody instead of linear counterpoint.The first movement, Light Coming on the Plains, is an elliptical-shaped painting, deep blue to indigo with a “horizon” at the bottom that seems flat and unchanging. The sun hasn’t risen yet, although it does in the course of this movement, but it seems instead to be providing light from behind the canvas. The music is unmoving in terms of rhythm or harmony (although there is a modulation midway through), a color-infused mantra of sound that is almost Eastern.At the height of the sun, we proceed to the second movement, entitled Canyon with Crows. The canyon is red-orange, with black crows circling above friendly unfolding hills. The music is gentle but lively and more rhythmic, with the birds represented by solo oboe, clarinet, and sometimes flute. Halfway through, the brass have a chorale version of the opening motive, played very slowly, over the unending triplets of woodwinds and strings. At the end of the movement, the birds return for a duo-cadenza, accompanied by the dying rays of the sun in muted strings and the ongoing triplets of the solo quartet.The stage is set for the final movement, Starlight Night. In O’Keeffe’s painting, the stars are represented by regularly-spaced rectangles of bright pale yellow on a blue-black sky, with the same shape to the field of vision and the horizon that is found in Light Coming on the Plains. The stars become audible: harp, celesta, glockenspiel, and string pizzicati all lend a sparkle while a solo flute introduces a slowly unfolding theme. After this theme has been heard twice and the sky has begun to really brighten, there is a sudden interruption: a xylophone and a piano begin another “mantra” in brittle staccato chords. This is the same mechanical eternity as O’Keeffe’s regularly-spaced square stars, and it continues on its own as the night progresses. The music builds and grows as the moon rises and arcs, then falls as the pre-dawn light that opened the work returns to bring it to a close. Acycle of light, changing with the movements of sun, moon, and stars, appearing differently from various points of view

By Dean Sorenson. For Viola. Band Methods. Standard of Excellence Jazz Ensemble Method. Level: Book A,1. Music Book. Published by Neil A. Kjos Music Company.

Orchestra arrangement 1: choir 1-2-part, actors/soloists, wind quartet (flute, trumpet, alto saxophone, trombone), string orchestra (2 violin, viola, cello), rhythm section (piano, bass, percussion); arrangement 2: choir 1-2-part, actors/soloists, piano, [bass,

SKU: CA.1282011

Eine Musicaloper in zwei Akten. Composed by Peter Schindler. Carus book series: More music books. Violin 1. Musicals for children, Songs for children, Secular choral music. Single Part, Violin 1. 28 pages. Duration 90 minutes. Carus Verlag #CV 12.820/11. Published by Carus Verlag (CA.1282011).

Language: German. Text: Schindler, Peter / Dieterich, Babette. Text: Peter Schindler, Babette Dieterich.

Courage, tolerance and conciliation - this is the message of a sweet and sharp, thrilling love story. Based loosely on Shakespeare and his famous tragedy Romeo and Juliet, a prince, smitten with love, and a courageous baroness bring foreign cultures and two hostile families together in a dramatic happy end. Musically, Konig Keks thrives on contrasts: Whereas the music of Krokantia borrows from the world of operetta, the music of the Chili islands is fiery and rhythmic. On the one hand, a small salon orchestra, and on the other a band produce a diversified sound. An experienced pianst can accompany a performance of the piece alone. Konig Keks offers ample musical as well as scenic performance possibilities for people of all ages. Score and part available separately - see item CA.1282000.

Orchestra arrangement 1: choir 1-2-part, actors/soloists, wind quartet (flute, trumpet, alto saxophone, trombone), string orchestra (2 violin, viola, cello), rhythm section (piano, bass, percussion); arrangement 2: choir 1-2-part, actors/soloists, piano, [bass,

SKU: CA.1282015

Eine Musicaloper in zwei Akten. Composed by Peter Schindler. Carus book series: More music books. Double bass. Musicals for children, Songs for children, Secular choral music. Single Part, Double Bass. 36 pages. Duration 90 minutes. Carus Verlag #CV 12.820/15. Published by Carus Verlag (CA.1282015).

Language: German. Text: Schindler, Peter / Dieterich, Babette. Text: Peter Schindler, Babette Dieterich.

Courage, tolerance and conciliation - this is the message of a sweet and sharp, thrilling love story. Based loosely on Shakespeare and his famous tragedy Romeo and Juliet, a prince, smitten with love, and a courageous baroness bring foreign cultures and two hostile families together in a dramatic happy end. Musically, Konig Keks thrives on contrasts: Whereas the music of Krokantia borrows from the world of operetta, the music of the Chili islands is fiery and rhythmic. On the one hand, a small salon orchestra, and on the other a band produce a diversified sound. An experienced pianst can accompany a performance of the piece alone. Konig Keks offers ample musical as well as scenic performance possibilities for people of all ages. Score and part available separately - see item CA.1282000.

Orchestra arrangement 1: choir 1-2-part, actors/soloists, wind quartet (flute, trumpet, alto saxophone, trombone), string orchestra (2 violin, viola, cello), rhythm section (piano, bass, percussion); arrangement 2: choir 1-2-part, actors/soloists, piano, [bass,

SKU: CA.1282003

Eine Musicaloper in zwei Akten. Composed by Peter Schindler. Carus book series: More music books. Also piano version. Musicals for children, Songs for children, Secular choral music. Vocal score. 96 pages. Duration 90 minutes. Carus Verlag #CV 12.820/03. Published by Carus Verlag (CA.1282003).

ISBN 9790007092757. Language: German. Text: Schindler, Peter / Dieterich, Babette. Text: Peter Schindler, Babette Dieterich.

Courage, tolerance and conciliation - this is the message of a sweet and sharp, thrilling love story. Based loosely on Shakespeare and his famous tragedy Romeo and Juliet, a prince, smitten with love, and a courageous baroness bring foreign cultures and two hostile families together in a dramatic happy end. Musically, Konig Keks thrives on contrasts: Whereas the music of Krokantia borrows from the world of operetta, the music of the Chili islands is fiery and rhythmic. On the one hand, a small salon orchestra, and on the other a band produce a diversified sound. An experienced pianst can accompany a performance of the piece alone. Konig Keks offers ample musical as well as scenic performance possibilities for people of all ages. Score available separately - see item CA.1282000.

Orchestra arrangement 1: choir 1-2-part, actors/soloists, wind quartet (flute, trumpet, alto saxophone, trombone), string orchestra (2 violin, viola, cello), rhythm section (piano, bass, percussion); arrangement 2: choir 1-2-part, actors/soloists, piano, [bass,

SKU: CA.1282013

Eine Musicaloper in zwei Akten. Composed by Peter Schindler. Carus book series: More music books. Violin 3/viola. Musicals for children, Songs for children, Secular choral music. Single Part, Violin 3/Viola. 56 pages. Duration 90 minutes. Carus Verlag #CV 12.820/13. Published by Carus Verlag (CA.1282013).

Language: German. Text: Schindler, Peter / Dieterich, Babette. Text: Peter Schindler, Babette Dieterich.

Courage, tolerance and conciliation - this is the message of a sweet and sharp, thrilling love story. Based loosely on Shakespeare and his famous tragedy Romeo and Juliet, a prince, smitten with love, and a courageous baroness bring foreign cultures and two hostile families together in a dramatic happy end. Musically, Konig Keks thrives on contrasts: Whereas the music of Krokantia borrows from the world of operetta, the music of the Chili islands is fiery and rhythmic. On the one hand, a small salon orchestra, and on the other a band produce a diversified sound. An experienced pianst can accompany a performance of the piece alone. Konig Keks offers ample musical as well as scenic performance possibilities for people of all ages. Score and part available separately - see item CA.1282000.

Orchestra arrangement 1: choir 1-2-part, actors/soloists, wind quartet (flute, trumpet, alto saxophone, trombone), string orchestra (2 violin, viola, cello), rhythm section (piano, bass, percussion); arrangement 2: choir 1-2-part, actors/soloists, piano, [bass,

SKU: CA.1282000

Eine Musicaloper in zwei Akten. Composed by Peter Schindler. Carus book series: More music books. German title: Konig Keks. Musicals for children, Songs for children, Secular choral music. Full score. 204 pages. Duration 90 minutes. Carus Verlag #CV 12.820/00. Published by Carus Verlag (CA.1282000).

ISBN 9790007059842. Language: German. Text: Schindler, Peter / Dieterich, Babette. Text: Peter Schindler, Babette Dieterich.

Courage, tolerance and conciliation - this is the message of a sweet and sharp, thrilling love story. Based loosely on Shakespeare and his famous tragedy Romeo and Juliet, a prince, smitten with love, and a courageous baroness bring foreign cultures and two hostile families together in a dramatic happy end. Musically, Konig Keks thrives on contrasts: Whereas the music of Krokantia borrows from the world of operetta, the music of the Chili islands is fiery and rhythmic. On the one hand, a small salon orchestra, and on the other a band produce a diversified sound. An experienced pianst can accompany a performance of the piece alone. Konig Keks offers ample musical as well as scenic performance possibilities for people of all ages.