SKU: PR.14440218S
UPC: 680160027170. 9.5 x 13 inches.
The concerts and exhibits of the Cleveland Museum of Art were an important formative influence for me during my student days. So when the invitation came to create a new work celebrating this institution on its seventy-fifth anniversary, I was not only happy to accept, but knew immediately that I wanted to write a piece that would somehow relate specifically to the museum. I decided to make the work a reflection on a painting in the museum's collection: Zurbaran's The Holy House of Nazareth. My quartet is not program music in a narrative sense, but rather a kind of meditation that takes its tone from this painting's remarkable integration of intense affect, mysterious repose and secret geometry. Besides Zurbaran's painting, the piece is occupied with a purely musical object of contemplation: the hymn tune Picardy, best known with the text Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence. This tune permeates the harmonic and melodic life of the quartet, sometimes appearing in a very simple, straightforward fashion, but often hidden amidst more complex structures. I was attracted to the melody for its musical qualities, but later realized that the hymn's text also resonates with the mood of the painting; the words speak of a reverent awe, of cherubim with sleepless eye, and of the mystery of the Incarnate Word who must suffer: King of kings, yet born of Mary...
SKU: PR.11642055L
UPC: 680160690770.
Writt en in 2020 and dedicated to the memory my mother, RuthAnn Richwine Ruehr, this Requiem is also written in memory of all who passed in 2020. The text is an English translation of a standard Latin Mass, but it is secular: all religious words were either removed or replaced. It became a kind of outline of the five stages of grief: bargaining, sorrow, denial, anger and acceptance.
SKU: PR.14440739S
UPC: 680160684755. 9 x 12 inches.
SKU: PR.11642066L
UPC: 680160690909.
The title, Shadow Light, is based on the initial chord that serves as the basis of all the material in the piece — a minor triad with a second and raised fourth. This harmony evokes both a darkness (the minor triad) and something brighter (the raised fourth), and the music moves expressively through these worlds. The piece can be played in an orchestral version, with string orchestra, or in a chamber version, with string quartet and bass.
SKU: PR.11642066S
UPC: 680160690893.
SKU: PR.11540242S
UPC: 680160690435. Transcribed by Chee Weng Yim.
SKU: PR.11640534S
UPC: 680160681853.
SKU: PR.11642056L
UPC: 680160690794.
Dedic ated to the memory of my mother, Ruthann Richwine Ruehr, who was both an environmentalist and a film maker, this piece channels the things she loved: the beauty of the natural world and the glorious sound of great film music. Although a complex comment on our relationship to the natural world, it begins with a simple tenet: that to preserve the earth we must first love and appreciate it.
SKU: PR.144407350
UPC: 680160682911. 9 x 12 inches.
SKU: PR.11640642L
UPC: 680160690657.
SKU: PR.114420590
UPC: 680160691180.
SKU: PR.11640772L
UPC: 680160691203.
SKU: PR.44641297L
UPC: 680160615414.
Flute (doubling Piccolo), Oboe, Clarinet in Bb, Bassoon, Horn in F, Trumpet in Bb, Trombone, Bass Trombone, Percussion (1 player), Strings.
SKU: PR.446413410
UPC: 680160667420. 9 x 12 inches.
I wrote this piece with a darker sonority and an emphasis on lyricism, qualities that I associate with the viola. In the first movement, titled Fantasia, the viola begins with a quiet and free cadenza, becoming more passionate until the woodwinds join in dialogue with the soloist. Gradually the rest of the orchestra enters, exploring ideas from the solo cadenza while introducing a new theme that reappears in the last movement. The second movement is a scherzo, mischievous in mood with the orchestra and viola trading barbed jokes. The antics are interrupted by a brass chorale with embellishment from the viola. The scherzo then resumes with prominent contributions from the bassoons. The last movement, titled Nocturne, plays with different kinds of music associated with the night. A sensual and romantic atmosphere gives way to something more menacing and ultimately violent. After a climax from the full orchestra, soft strings and solo viola lead us into the coda, taking an ambiguous idea from the first movement and transforming it into a lyrical and heartfelt prayer. The concerto ends with the solo viola ascending on the crest of an orchestral wave of sound.
SKU: PR.144407280
ISBN 9781491136607. UPC: 680160680047.
Faced with the same instrumentation as Messiaen’s iconic Quartet for the End of Time, composed in a POW camp during World War II, Ellen Taaffe Zwilich was moved to give voice to those less fortunate prisoners who would never return home. Zwilich’s chilling memorial quotes music created in concentration camps, drawing on two short excerpts to create an artistic view of a death march and song of grieving.The German word “Abgang†has an innocent meaning of “exit,†but the Nazis used it as a signal that concentration camp prisoners were there to be sent off and murdered.My first movement, Abgang, is based on two musical fragments. It begins with a quote of a Hebraic melody that Viktor Ullmann used as a basis for variations in his Piano Sonata No. 7 that he was working on while in Theresienstadt. Next is a short quote of a fox trot that was arranged by a composer (only identified by his prisoner-number) for performance in Auschwitz. What follows is a purely musical, but deeply personal exploration.After finishing the movement, I felt it necessary to add a second movement, Kaddish, which is a prayer recited in mourning, without a single mention of death, but celebrating God, peace, and life. The Kaddish appears in the score and parts in an English translation (along with some Aramaic). It is not meant to be spoken or sung, but to guide the performers in giving meaning to the musical phrases.
SKU: PR.144407540
UPC: 680160687800.
TWO LATIN DANCES is a beautifully evocative and sizzling work based on Bossa Nova and Tango rhythms, now available in a new arrangement for contrabass tuba* and piano by the composer. While at first sounding as two distinct movements, the characteristic dances gradually intertwine to create a uniquely integrated and ever-building whole. Celebrated trombonist Natalie Mannix commissioned the original work for trombone and piano, and introduced TWO LATIN DANCES at the 2016 International Trombone Festival. Mannix has recorded the work on her CD Breaking Ground: A Celebration of Women Composers. For advanced performers.*A version for bass tuba and piano is also available (144-40741).
SKU: PR.144407510
ISBN 9781491136010. UPC: 680160685752.
TWO LATIN DANCES is a beautifully evocative and sizzling work based on Bossa Nova and Tango rhythms. While at first sounding as two distinct movements, the characteristic dances gradually intertwine to create a uniquely integrated whole. By popular demand, Lauren Bernofsky has transcribed the work, already a staple of the trombone repertoire, for trumpet so that more musicians may join in the excitement!
SKU: PR.144407440
ISBN 9781491134948. UPC: 680160684861.
Irres istibly charming, Lauren Bernofsky’s SPRING SONG bubbles with innocent optimism, graceful syncopations, and a singably catchy tune. The piece is easily playable by intermediate performers and is equally delightful for more experienced players.
SKU: PR.11641599L
UPC: 680160680085.
SKU: PR.11642054S
UPC: 680160690749.
SKU: PR.144407550
UPC: 680160688692.
SKU: PR.11640311S
UPC: 680160683086.
SKU: PR.140401270
UPC: 680160682935. 9 x 12 inches.
My Souvenir Chestaareminders of the pastaais an ongoing collection of short, contrasting studies ranging in duration from about one to seven minutes. They celebrate pianists whose artistry I respect and whose friendships I relish. In addition, each segment of the full set is individually dedicated to young colleagues and friends with whom I work. Their collective energy, knowledge and wit continue to foster my own love for the art I revere. The emotional nature of each piece changes extensively andawhether they dress in garb that is comical, angry, jazz-pop inflected, aacademica or sedateathey are all musics instigated by the sounds of my personal remembrances. Book I was commissioned by Mr. Sean Kennard of Deland, Florida. Additional financial support was provided by the School of Music at Stetson University, Timothy Peter, Dean.
SKU: PR.140401280
UPC: 680160682942. 9 x 12 inches.
My Souvenir Chestaareminders of the pastaais an ongoing collection of short, contrasting studies ranging in duration from about one to seven minutes. They celebrate pianists whose artistry I respect and whose friendships I relish. In addition, each segment of the full set is individually dedicated to young colleagues and friends with whom I work. Their collective energy, knowledge and wit continue to foster my own love for the art I revere. The emotional nature of each piece changes extensively andawhether they dress in garb that is comical, angry, jazz-pop inflected, aacademica or sedateathey are all musics instigated by the sounds of my personal remembrances. Book 2 was commissioned by Mr. Barry Snyder of New York City, New York. Additional financial support was provided by the School of Music at Stetson University, Timothy Peter, Dean.
SKU: PR.141400640
UPC: 680160024223. Text: Theodore Roethke. Theodore Roethke.
SKU: PR.446413220
UPC: 680160690176.
SKU: PR.44641322L
UPC: 680160690206.
SKU: PR.111401680
UPC: 680160003273.
SKU: PR.144407270
UPC: 680160681891. 9 x 12 inches.
My Eighth and Ninth String Quartets, begun in late 2017, are sonic cousins. Akin to real cousins, each piece exhibits differing natures. They were requested by two ensembles that have become asecond familiesa to me: The Jupiter Quartet of Urbana, Illinois and the Amernet Quartet based in Miami, Florida. Their collective dedication to, and care for, our art remains a personal and constant are-fuelinga for me. The quartets were commissioned by, and dedicated to, Margaret and Philip Verleger of Denver, Colorado. Additional financial support was provided by the School of Music at Stetson University, Timothy Peter, Dean. Quartet No.8 is laid out in a classical four-movement design. The work does break somewhat from conventional tradition by often placing quartet members into soloistic roles as the movement titles note. individual The opening piece presents at the outset a three-note motto which is turned over, tumbled, and energetically discussed, primarily by a violin duet. It is a duel. The two players part company only infrequently during the movement's progress, pausing briefly for other commentary by their alower cohortsa, the Viola and Cello do not argue, but abet their friends' aeffortsa. The piece's overall character is fairly bright and dancelike, closing in an unresolvedastandoffa. not Two principal asound-objectsa stitch the second movement scherzo together: sliding hands (glissandos) and a plucked ashufflea (pizzicato) - both instigated by the (solo) cellist. The others are influenced - or are not - by their aleadera, and follow - or interrupt - the cello throughout their four-voiced conversation. The third movement (longest of the set) is an elegy dedicated to the memory of a close personal friend, the American composer David Maslanka (1943 - 2017). Its' genesis is a simple 5-note melody derived from my own name (SaC/DaC/EaC/H). This line commences in the (solo) viola and is obsessively uttered without relief during the movement's lamentations. The closing movement revisits much of that opening three-note material, but now dressed up for the full quartet to view. It is a slowly accelerating romp which - twice - cannot avoid a nod to the Amernet and Jupiter performers by offering a humble bow to the 4th movement of Gustav Holst's PLANETS - Jupiter: The Bringer of Jollity. My quartet serves as an honouring salute of thanks for the talent, respect, and friendship of these two young quartets. STRING QUARTET No. 8 is roughly 22 minutes in duration. It was written as an homage to Franz Joseph Haydn, my adesert-island-composera, and completed in Holly Hill, Florida in early April of 2019. S.H.