10 Fugues For String Quartet Vol. 2. Par BACH JOHANN-SEBASTIAN. The idea for these arrangements came to me whilst listening to the Hagen Quartet's beautiful recording of the fugues that form part of Haydn's 'Sun Quartets', Op. 20. The spirit and influence of J.S. Bach, in particular his Well Tempered Clavier, Book II, courses through these three miraculous Haydn fugues. Like the viol consort, the string quartet suits this kind of composition (the fugue), with all four instruments sufficiently similar in character to each other to match the extraordinary unity and economy of the counterpoint. A string quartet playing Bach fugues is a good example of a harmonious relationship between form andcontent: just as there is a unifying principle behind the construction of the four string instruments, so there is (usually) a single theme or subject that unifies the construction of a four-part fugue. Thus the form enacts the content, telling you something about the text and message within. Apart from Haydn's and a handful of other composers' wondrous creations, there's little fugal writing for string quartet, at least in comparison with the abundance of other forms. This was another reason to make these arrangements. The quartet offers a melodic independence impossible to achieve on a single instrument. And I believe the technical and interpretative challenges posed by this repertoire and ndash - lightness of sound and rhythmic fluidity, for example - will be very valuable to quartets seeking the holy grail: a unified sound. Perhaps the simplest and most compelling reason for this work is that I just love this music more than I can say. These dazzling pieces, mostly fast, bright and in major keys, show Bach at his most playful, funny and mischievous, composing for an instrument rarely associated with these qualities. And so I'm very happy to offer string quartets these little know fugues, written by my favourite composer - a violinist and violist himself, but above all a master / Classique / Date parution : 2018-05-04/ Répertoire / Quatuor à Cordes

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20 Easy to Intermediate Pieces from four Centuries. Par NEUMANN EVA-MARIA (Arr.). Making music in a quartet uniquely nurtures young string players’ musical development, ensemble playing, listening to each other, and intonation. So, what could be more obvious than introducing the scoring of this genre, often referred to as chamber music’s supreme discipline, as early as possible. Indeed, composers have all along advised the classical string quartet’s outstanding compositions, but they are hardly easy to play for beginners. Here, with the present collection, is where Eva-Maria Neumann comes in. The two volumes include A total of 20 easy to intermediate arrangements of pieces from Bach to Bartók, together with specifically composed ones in string-quartet friendly keys - Reading scores and individual parts - additionally, individual part for violin III instead of viola - Tips on warming up, intonation, bowing, fingering, tempos, dynamics, and playing musically - Specific instructions for the individual pieces - Lists of supplementary original literature The pieces are also effective as scored for chorus./ Recueil / Quatuor à Cordes

Scored For String Quartet. Commissioned by the New Arts String Quartet first performed in Tokyo November 1996.Quoting Tanaka: The title Metal Strings suggests speed metal rock music which I have been listening to a lotin recent years. I find an explosive energy in its music that people of today thirst for. Previously I have explored solid speedy and metallic sound in pieces such as 'Wave Mechanics' (1994) 'Wave Mechanics II' (1994) and'Metalic Crystal' (1994-95). This idea has been extended and developed in my string quartet Metal Strings.Score only edition separate parts are also available on sale.

Commissioned by the Presteigne Festival of Music and the Arts Limited with funds provided by the Arts Council of Wales for premiere in August 2012 by the Carducci String Quartet in St. Andrew?s Church Presteigne.Composer's Note.'Some years ago I noted down the opening theme of what I anticipated would be a relatively Classical string quartet ?Classical? in the sense of the forms adopted plus perhaps a predominantly lyrical tone of voice. The commission for this work from the Presteigne Festival for their 30th anniversary in 2012 gave me the opportunity of putting into practice this long-held idea. It isdedicated to the Festival and to the Carducci Quartet whose career as much-admired friends and colleagues I have greatly enjoyed.The only break with ?classical? tradition is that there are five movements instead of four with two Scherzi as the second and third though both these are very short and contrasting. I found myself listening to Haydn?s string quartets a lot before and during the composition of this work and I hope the spirit of his delight in writing for this medium is echoed in my own music. The opening movement is in sonata form unusually for me and lyricism is I hope the basis of it though there is a good deal of activity at times. The Scherzo light and marked by frequently-changing rhythms is followed by an equally short but ferocious Perpetuum mobile marked Wild und rasch (one of my favourite German tempo markings). The fourth movement is an intense Adagio in which a single phrase uttered strongly in unison is gradually transformed into gentle diatonic chords before the close intermingled with cadenzas for cello for viola and for the two violins together. The finale (a Rondo) resumes the classical tone of the first movement but apart from one dance-like episode it builds up a fair head of steam towards a final Presto which however ascends slows and quietens towards a gentle summer sky at dusk.'

Par D'ADAMO DANIEL. The starting point for the composition of this piece was the musical observation of sound materials that were both tiny and extremely detailed, expressing a strong musical potential. Nano-sounds, materials which belong to a relatively small and hardly perceptible acoustic world which through composition, are projected on a much wider listening scale. This change of perspective, both real and imaginary, takes place through the composition of the score and of the electroacoustic part, but especially through the amplification and diffusion of the instrumental and the electronic sound on the loudspeakers. / Date parution : 2022-02-03/ Répertoire / Quatuor à Cordes et Electronique

20 Easy to Intermediate Pieces from four Centuries. Par NEUMANN EVA-MARIA (Arr.). Making music in a quartet uniquely nurtures young string players’ musical development, ensemble playing, listening to each other, and intonation. So, what could be more obvious than introducing the scoring of this genre, often referred to as chamber music’s supreme discipline, as early as possible. Indeed, composers have all along advised the classical string quartet’s outstanding compositions, but they are hardly easy to play for beginners. Here, with the present collection, is where Eva-Maria Neumann comes in. The two volumes include A total of 20 easy to intermediate arrangements of pieces from Bach to Bartók, together with specifically composed ones in string-quartet friendly keys - Reading scores and individual parts - additionally, individual part for violin III instead of viola - Tips on warming up, intonation, bowing, fingering, tempos, dynamics, and playing musically - Specific instructions for the individual pieces - Lists of supplementary original literature The pieces are also effective as scored for chorus./ Recueil / Quatuor à Cordes

Par KREISLER FRITZ. Apart from the collection of Classical Manuscripts composed by the violin virtuoso Fritz Kreisler (1875-1962) which he had passed off as transcriptions of settings of old masters, the violinist published original works early on as well. Kreisler himself liked to play them as encore pieces, thus sweetening many a concert with this 'musical confectionery'. Famous tunes are, for example, Liebesfreud, Liebesleid and Schön Rosmarin, his old Viennese dance tunes, in which Kreisler evoked the coffee-house atmosphere of his home town with beautiful melodies and mellifluous harmonies. Another wonderful example is his Marche miniature viennoise, with its humorous theme and a rather march-like middle section - and everywhere, Kreisler takes the audience by surprise with a little Viennese snide humour. Kreisler's original compositions are lovely miniatures, lively and catchy, even with a touch of melancholy - yet full of charm and elegance. Arranged for string trio, they are enjoyable to play and worth listening to and a valuable addition to the repertoire - ideal for sociable music-making or as pieces to end a 'serious' concert./ Répertoire / Trio à Cordes

Par RAE JAMES. This collection of twelve very easy original pieces was written with the aim of providing players in the earliest stage of their musical development with solo and group performance material. Although very elementary, the pieces are composed in a wide variety of styles in order to provide a well-balanced musical diet for the young performer. All of these pieces for young violists in their earliest stages of learning can be performed as solos with piano accompaniment (free download) or in unison with others. Some have an optional 2nd part to enrich the ensemble. Whilst these 12 pieces are written specifically for the viola and address the challenges a beginner violist would encounter, the last four pieces are also “key friendly” for beginners on most instruments and are therefore suitable for mixed instrumental groups. These same four pieces appear in books for other instruments in the Debut series. A CD providing stimulating demonstration performances for listening as well as “minus-one” accompaniments for playing along at home. • Free download of the piano accompaniment parts • CD with play-along version and full version for practising at home A further option: mixed ensemble! Whilst these twelve pieces are written specifically for each respective solo instrument, the last four pieces are also suitable for mixed instrumental groups. These same four pieces appear in books for other instruments in the Debut series – great fun for all! / Pédagogie / Recueil / 1-2 Altos et Piano

Cheryl Frances-Hoad's The Forgiveness Machine for Piano Cello and Violin. 'The Forgiveness Machine was commissioned by the Phoenix Piano Trio as part of their Beyond Beethoven Project. My work is very closely modeled on the second movement of Beethoven’s Archduke Trio and comprises a set of loosely structured variations many of which are motivically very similar to Beethoven's. This work is dedicated to the memory of my grandmother Christina Hoad. I received this commission in the last months of her life and would often sit in the room listening to the Archduke on my headphones while she rested. Beethoven’s music to me atthat time had an almost transcendental quality to it temporarily permitting an escape from the reality and inevitability of my Nan’s illness. It was this quality of serenity beauty and dignity that I tried to emulate in my work. The title is taken from an art work by Karen Green: the Forgiveness Machine was made after the death of her husband David Foster Wallace and encourages members of the public to write down on a piece of paper what they want to forgive/be forgiven for before feeding it to the machine which sucks up the piece of paper and shreds it (the artwork is some seven foot long). Whilst in my case there is nothing to forgive it was the feeling of catharsis that many people reported after interaction with this artwork that struck a chord with me and had tremendous relevance to this work.' - Cheryl Frances-Hoad

for piano quartet. Par DAVIES PETER MAXWELL. The two nocturnes were composed immediately after major surgery, against a deadline, and, despite the music sounding unlike anything I have written before, I decided to keep them exactly as they turned out. 2010 is a Chopin year, and I made this pair of nocturnes into a little tribute, after playing through and listening to most of his output. Never before had I composed under these drugged conditions – the musical dimensions were enormously exaggerated, with each interval and each phrase being elongated out of all proportion, and the whole few minutes filling the whole of time and space. The orchestration, for piano quartet, was influenced by the very neo-classical feel of the chamber version of the concertos, and the harmonic language very much the result of pondering Chopin’s very individual take on J.S Bach. They are dedicated to James MacMillan and Amelia Freedman respectively. Sir Peter Maxwell Davies (2010)/ Répertoire / Piano, Violon, Alto et Violoncelle

Par BUTTERWORTH HELEN. This collection of seven pieces is suitable for young string players in the early stages of orchestral playing. The rhythms and notes used in all the parts are still quite basic, the third violin/viola being the easiest, but the overall effect is very satisfying for performer and listener. The Violin 3 and Viola parts are the same and the Double Bass part is optional. The optional Piano parts can be used in rehearsals or if any of the string parts are missing. / Ensemble Music / Recueil / Violon, Alto, Violoncelle et Contrebasse

3- und 4-stimmige Kanons. Par SCHMITZ MANFRED. Canons are fun and at the same time also help develop the ability to listen and play along, thus making them an important enhancement to musical training. With 109 pop style melodies in two volumes Manfred Schmitz work provides comprehensive and diversified material which can be flexibly implemented in teaching single pupils, for group lessons and for ensemble classes. The instruments violin, viola, violoncello and flute can thus stay „among themselves“ or play music together in all imaginable instrumental combinations. 3/4 part Particularly designed for performance in groups and ensembles, the demands grow with the addition of voices and the growing diversity of timbres. As withthe two-voiced canons, also the three and four-voiced canons can with the help of the universal versions be played in all thinkable combinations of instruments up to the various chamber music ensembles. / Niveau : Débutant à Intermédiaire / Contemporary - Solos / Recueil / Alto

Piano Quartet No. 1. Par JOST CHRISTIAN. Christian Jost spent the summer of 1987 in an Indian reservation in Arizona. Impressed by the foreign culture and deeply moved by the visit of a Native American burial site, he composed - apart from other works - the piano quartet 'Ritual Returning' in which Indian influences can be heard. Like many of his works, this vibrant work resembles a journey in which he assimilates impressions and thoughts. 'Ritual Returning' is an extraordinary addition to the common repertoire for piano quartet. This piece will also elate listeners who are reticent about contemporary music./ Répertoire / Quatuor avec Piano

Richard Reed Parry's Quartet For Heart And Breath is an innovative and original piece based on the performers' own bodily rhythms. This sheet music is for String Quartet (Violin/Violin/Viola/Cello).Richard Reed Parry is familiar to millions as the lead singer of rock band Arcade Fire, yet his foray into classical music is equally worthy of attention. Quartet For Heart And Breath is an experiment into using the performers' heartbeats and breathing to dictate the tempo. The performers are instructed to wear stethoscopes in order to listen to their heartbeats closely, while one complete breath corresponds to one bar and two heartbeats equal two crotchets.The result is a quiet and subtle piece, as each instrument has to play softly so as to be able to keep in time. The piece also has a naturally occurring dynamism in that the players' heart rates constantly change as the performance goes on, with each instrument falling in and out of sync sometimes culminating in a beautiful moment of all heartbeats matching each other. Interestingly, this unique aspect means that no performance will ever be the same, meaning to hear or play this composition will be a truly once in a lifetime experience.Quartet For Heart And Breath is a superbly one-of-a-kind composition by Richard Reed Parry. Commissioned by the Kronos Quartet, this piece makes for a wonderfully distinctive performance, with fascinating implications for the connection between the music and the body. / Quatuor A Cordes