Par COOMBS STEPHEN. This is the second of two volumes of music from the big country. Following the success of 'French Romantic Repertoire' and 'Russian Romantic Repertoire', Stephen Coombs has once again selected music from a diverse range of styles and composers, this time from America. They are presented in this volume designed to stretch pianists and delight audiences the world over./ Recueil / Piano

See if you can keep a straight face as you sing these “serious” examples of fine choral literature! From the Turtle Creek Chorale Series comes a brilliant collection of settings of “Mary Had a LittleLamb.” Arranger Eric Lane Barnes presents a wonderful music history lesson with these marvelous tongue-in-cheek Lambscapes set in Gregorian chant baroque German classical and Italian operatic styles. For high schoolthrough adult choirs this humorous collection is a must!!!

Many of the old hymns have great sometimes stunning messages. Michael Hurley feels that sometimes the “antiquated” melody and/or harmony can get in the way of these important words. He has embarked upon an ongoingproject to create fresh new music for these grand expressions of faith. He has definitely accomplished that with this arrangement! Higher Ground is lively and upbeat with exciting harmonies and catchy syncopation.“Pressing on the upward way” is no problem with this uplifting choral. The melody soars as the mood of the text climbs higher adding a great high soprano descant on the final verse “I want to scale the utmostheight and catch a gleam of glory bright!” A wonderful orchestration or accompaniment CD is available taking this spirited octavo to new heights...to Higher Ground!

Par HINDEMITH PAUL. The opera is set in a variety of locations between the years 1608 and 1630 and throws a spotlight on individual scenes, sometimes presented simultaneously, from the life of the astronomer Johannes Kepler (1571-1630); the opera takes its name from Kepler’s theoretical work ‘Harmonices mundi’. Hindemith utilises substantial historical studies as the basis for his sketches of individuals within Kepler’s circle who each accompany the astronomer’s scientific endeavours with a variety of personal ambitions. The military commander Wallenstein attempts to utilise Kepler’s astrological abilities to realise his own pretensions to power while Kepler’s assistant Ulrich aspires to scientific fame and recognition. Kepler’s mother urges her son to apply his scientific abilities to the services of her black magic and the Lutheran minister Hizler forbids the astronomer to receive communion because Kepler questions the doctrine of Holy Communion in the Lutheran church and expresses sympathy for Calvinist doctrine. The few figures shed in a positive light include Kepler’s wife Susanna who supports her husband’s pursuit of truth and knowledge and the child Susanna who listens to the voices of nature and the moon in her childish naivety, thereby gaining revelatory knowledge. At the end of his life, Kepler takes stock of his situation, succumbs to a state of resignation and considers death as the greatest harmony of all. In his state of agony, music of the spheres can be heard; the constellations appear as allegorical figures in the opera and contradict Kepler’s negative concepts: lying beyond all that can be researched by mankind is a final majestic realm with the powers to ‘permit us to be amalgamated into a gigantic harmony of the spheres.’ / Date parution : 2022-07-20/ Répertoire / Opéra