We owe a debt of gratitude to the clarinettist Richard Mühlfeld for making the elderly Brahms so interested in his instrument. In the 1890s the composer wrote the Trio op. 114, the Quintet op. 115 and the Sonatas op. 120 - three gems in the clarinet chamber music repertoire. Brahms also provided a part for viola as an alternative to the clarinet. The revision of our edition of the viola version of opus 120 is based on the musical text of the New Brahms Complete Edition and in many respects contains significant improvements: we were able to consult the autograph for the first time - the newly set piano score now contains the viola part - and viola players can benefit from fingerings and bowings by Tabea Zimmermann in the solo part. / Alto Et Piano

Brahms had already announced his ?retirement' from composition when in the spring of 1894 he played chamber music with the cellist Robert Hausmann and the clarinettist Richard Mühlfeld. This encounter apparently renewed his enthusiasm for Mühlfeld's much admired playing and inspired him to write two clarinet sonatas in the summer of the same year. It remains unclear when exactly Brahms drafted viola parts to his two sonatas. In any case the viola and clarinet versions of the works were first published by Simrock at the same time in 1895. Today there is no doubt about Brahms' authorship of the viola parts. They include important differences from the clarinet original in order to do justice to this string instrument.An important part of this edition is the extensive preface. Firstly it informs about the sonatas' origins, their compositional process, pre-publication performances, their publication history as well as early reception. Truly remarkable is the unique Performance Practice Commentary. Here the editors start from the premise that already a few decades after Brahms' death, a widening gulf developed between the composer's expectations and the performance practices of the early 20th century. On the basis of manifold sources which include memoirs by pupils and chamber music partners, treatises and essays, early instructive editions and historical recordings, the editors deal with key issues in understanding Brahms' notation. By a section-by-section analysis of rhythm and timing, dynamics and accentuation, dots and strokes, slurring and non legato, piano pedalling and overholding, piano arpeggiation and dislocation, string instrument fingering, string instrument harmonics and vibrato, the editors provide an indispensable assistance for a historically informed interpretation of the works.At the same time, the edition offers an exciting and often surprising insight into musical interpretation of the German Romantic Era in general.- A pioneering Urtext edition- With an unmarked Urtext part- With a second part including fingering and bowing based on the practices of contemporaries of Brahms- With an extensive Performance Practice Commentary- For further information on Romantic performance practice we recommend the text booklet: 'Performance Practices in Johannes Brahms' Chamber Music?, BA 9600 / Alto Et Piano

Remember fighting off the Sandman, desperately struggling to stay awake at the chance that you might catch a glimpse of Saint Nick. Every rustle or bump made you jolt from your quilted pod and race to the living room where the lit tree posed, draped in soft light. Still no Santa! It took all your energy to climb back into bed with your eyelids drawn and your body heavy. Tucked back in as best as you could with the sheets and pillows slightly disheveled, you dozed off while musical thoughts fill your groggy head. A wide, animated grin filled your face as you dreamt of chilly nights of caroling and warm, fire-lit sing-a-longs. Music has always been an integral part of the holiday season. As everyone knows, there is no better way to celebrate than with a song. Re-live your childhood memories and share your love of music this holiday season with Santa's Little Helper published by Santorella Publications. Santa's Little Helper for Viola is also written as solos or duets in accommodating keys for Violin, Cello and Bass. This best selling Santorella Publication includes a piano accompaniment CD with lyrics, so the whole family can sing along. The Piano Accompaniment book for this Stringed Instrument Edition is sold separately. Santorella's Horn Edition is also available for trumpet, clarinet, flute, alto sax and trombone../ Recueil / Alto et Piano

While Gordon Jacobs composed a vast amount of music more than four hundred pieces -- he was particularly celebrated for his work for Viola and for woodwinds as well as for his books on music pedagogy. Jacob had an early success with his Viola Concerto of 1926 which was premiered at a Promenade concert and which was the beginning of a series of strong contributions to Viola repertoire. This Sonatina for Viola and Piano demonstrates his sensitive writing for the instrument. It works very well when performed on clarinet as well.While many composers of the 20th century rejected serialism atonality and other avant garde effects in favour of Romanticism Jacob was much morean adherent to the musical models of the classic and baroque eras while still encompassing modern harmonies. His work Music for a Festival for symphonic wind band and brass ensemble was used for the post-war Festival of Britain and he arranged the British national anthem for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

Par JOLAS BETSY. La place que Betsy Jolas s?accorde elle-même dans le paysage de la musique contemporaine est celle de « l?indépendance » et de la « différence ». Cette position s?est clairement imposée dans les années 1960, lorsque sa vie créatrice est enfin devenue publique. Inflexible dans son choix marginal, elle a cependant côtoyé activement, aux lendemains de la guerre, le courant sériel, sans jamais vraiment y adhérer. Elle s?est de même intéressée aux musiques extra-européennes, américaines et dites « non savantes » ? de Bali au jazz ?, comme également, même si d?assez loin, aux recherches électro-acoustiques, notamment pour son opéra Schliemann (1983-1993)./ Répertoire / Alto et Piano

Edition Urtext, Brochée. Par REGER MAX. Tout comme Brahms dans son opus 120, Reger prévit pour sa Sonate op. 107 deux instruments solistes différents: 'Je vais arranger la partie de clarinette pour l'alto également, afin que l'on puisse également exécuter la pièce sous cette forme' (lettre à son éditeur). Il ne voulait en aucun cas laisser l'aménagement de la partie d'alto à la maison d'édition, car il fallait changer ici ou là quelques liaisons et octavier certains passages - 'je suis le seul à pouvoir faire ce travail!' La tessiture médiane très sonore de l'alto est proche des sonorités de la clarinette, mais confère toutefois à l'oeuvre un coloris tout particulier. Les doigtés destinés à faciliter l'exécution de cette musique et les coups d'archet mis dans cette édition Urtext seront appréciés des altistes. / Date parution : 2011-09-23/ Répertoire / Alto et Piano