SKU: GI.G-10451
ISBN 9781622775934.
Featuring: George Lynn • George Eugene Umberson • Donald Neuen • Paris Rutherford • Peter Bagley • Charlene Archibeque • Eph Ehly • Joseph Flummerfelt • Joan Conlon • Ann Howard Jones • Simon Carrington • Earl Rivers • Henry Leck • Hilary Apfelstadt • André Thomas • Maria Guinand Choral conductors shoulder a great responsibility as custodians of their craft. And there is perhaps no better source of inspiration and guidance for today’s conductors than the experiences and insights of choral giants who have blazed the trail we now tread. In Search of Inspiration is a collection of in-depth interviews with fifteen highly respected choral conductors from around the world. Each answers a series of fundamental questions about how they shaped their achievements: How do they balance their time making music and fulfilling teaching schedules and concert schedules? How do they motivate students, manage outside professional commitments in the educational setting, and satisfy administrators? Each conductor generously shares their wisdom and expertise, discussing memorable educational moments on the podium and in the classroom, recounting stirring experiences in the concert hall, and sharing stories about their work with historic figures in music. They also offer insights on programming repertoire and explain how they have successfully navigated a career in music. These interviews document the through lines within the choral art—elements of performance and mentorship stemming from such luminaries as Julius Herford and Robert Shaw that connect so many of the great conductors. A fascinating and relevant read for any choral educator, In Search of Inspiration explores the choral art through extraordinary 20th- and 21st-century voices whose artistry and influence will be felt for generations to come. Gregory Gentry is director of choral studies and the Lynn Whitten Choral Music Faculty Fellow at the University of Colorado Boulder. He is editor of the Gregory Gentry Choral Series (Fred Bock Publishers), past president of Arizona ACDA, and former chorus master with the Phoenix Symphony and Colorado Music Festival. Gentry states that he felt it was time to revitalize and update the book In Quest of Answers: Interviews with American Choral Conductors (Howard Swan and Carole Glenn). Contributors: Emilie Bertram, Corie Brown, Galen Darrough, Stephen Futrell, Anna Wheeler Gentry, Gregory Gentry, Sharon A. Hansen, Aaron Harp, Vernon Huff, David Kates, Dee Romines, Kira Zeeman Rugen, Paul Thompson, Betsy Cook Weber, Adam Zrust.
SKU: CF.CPS254
ISBN 9781491159811. UPC: 680160918409.
PROGRAM NOTES As We Search: Legend of the Brown Mountain Lights is inspired by the many ghost stories that have come from the mysterious occurrence of lights on Brown Mountain (Burke County, North Carolina). These mysterious phenomena appear during evenings in autumn. Many have seen the lights, but the exact cause remains a mystery. The origin of the lights has inspired numerous legends. As We Search: Legend of the Brown Mountain Lights focuses on one legend from the nineteenth century. After a local woman went missing, though murder was suspected, villagers engaged in a search of the mountain. Having never been found, it is said the search continues, and ghostly echoes of the search lights can still be seen on Brown Mountain to this day. NOTES TO CONDUCTOR The duration of the composition is five minutes at the marked tempo. Careful attention should be given to articulations, dynamic changes and phrasing throughout the work. The entire work is based on the idea first stated by the bells in m. 12. Each time the idea is restated, stronger development occurs around it building to m. 74. Attention should be given to the dissonance that resolves in mm. 5-6, 9-10, 17-18, 21-22, 41-42, 45-46, 76-77 and 80-81. The climax of the piece is m. 81, representing the moment the villagers think they have found the lost woman. Measure 82 to the end continues a fading trend as if people are forgetting about the legend of the Brown Mountain Lights. Measure 110 carrying into m. 111 is meant to be unresolved. Even though the legend has faded over time, the lights still exist As We Search..PROGRAM NOTESAs We Search: Legend of the “Brown Mountain Lights†is inspired by the many ghost stories that have come from the mysterious occurrence of lights on Brown Mountain (Burke County, North Carolina). These mysterious phenomena appear during evenings in autumn. Many have seen the lights, but the exact cause remains a mystery.The origin of the lights has inspired numerous legends. As We Search: Legend of the “Brown Mountain Lights†focuses on one legend from the nineteenth century. After a local woman went missing, though murder was suspected, villagers engaged in a search of the mountain. Having never been found, it is said the search continues, and ghostly echoes of the search lights can still be seen on Brown Mountain to this day. NOTES TO CONDUCTORThe duration of the composition is five minutes at the marked tempo. Careful attention should be given to articulations, dynamic changes and phrasing throughout the work.The entire work is based on the idea first stated by the bells in m. 12. Each time the idea is restated, stronger development occurs around it building to m. 74. Attention should be given to the dissonance that resolves in mm. 5–6, 9–10, 17–18, 21–22, 41–42, 45–46, 76–77 and 80–81.The climax of the piece is m. 81, representing the moment the villagers think they have found the lost woman.Measure 82 to the end continues a fading trend as if people are forgetting about the legend of the Brown Mountain Lights.Measure 110 carrying into m. 111 is meant to be unresolved. Even though the legend has faded over time, the lights still exist “As We Search.â€Â .
SKU: CF.CPS254F
ISBN 9781491159828. UPC: 680160918416.
SKU: CL.011-4412-01
History is the hook in this composition that, from start to finish, is full of non-stop excitement. The use of one’s vivid imagination is a great tool for inspiration. Following the first reading of this work, your students will undoubtedly want to raise their hands and, when called upon, enthusiastically share their interpretation as to the meaning of the music. This piece also provides a wonderful opportunity to introduce the musical understanding of a fugue. Well crafted and fun to perform!
About C.L. Barnhouse Command Series
The Barnhouse Command Series includes works at grade levels 2, 2.5, and 3. This series is designed for middle school and junior high school bands, as well as high school bands of smaller instrumentation or limited experience. Command Series publications have a slightly larger instrumentation than the Rising Band Series, and are typically of larger scope, duration, and musical content.
SKU: KN.52612
UPC: 822795526127.
Commissioned by the Kentucky Music Educators' Association for its 2002 All-State Jazz Ensemble, the inspiration for this medium-advanced, up-swing release comes from the music of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers and Birdland, NYC's legendary jazz club. Though improvised solos are assigned to trumpet and trombone, chord sheets are included so anyone can serve as soloist. Mike's score calls for five trumpets, and the chart takes about six minutes from start to finish.
SKU: KN.52612S
SKU: HL.14043618
UPC: 840126948875. 9.25x12.0x0.08 inches. English.
Four Traditional Songs is a setting of four heartbreaking and poignant folk songs by virtuoso contemporary composer Nico Muhly . Composed in 2011, the songs deal with themes of death, murder and unimaginable events that are emotively arranged for Countertenor Voice and Piano. Commissioned by Carnegie Hall in New York City and Wigmore Hall in London, this work was first performed at those renowned venues in 2011 and 2012, respectively. Muhly states that he drew inspiration from old English folksongs, and would spend time imagining stylised yet subtle musical settings with accompaniments. The result of this intensive period of listening is Four Traditional Songs , whichlasts around 15 minutes and carries that incredible sense of sad balladry that counters the occasionally jaunty melodies. This edition is for Countertenor Voice. Please click here to purchase the Baritone version.
SKU: GI.G-8504
ISBN 9781579999674. English. Text by Liam Lawton.
    ‘It is in great simplicity that great beauty is revealed, and only then may we discover where God truly hides.  In this moving exploration of the path to understanding God’s presence, Liam Lawton considers how we can bring spiritual awakening and consolation into our lives, in every circumstance. Liam shares remarkable stories of human life and of the people and events that have touched him during his years of ministry, along with fascinating perspectives on his own spiritual awakening. These pages reveal a God who does not intrude upon human living but rather is available to enter into the very depth of it and become present to those who wish for “eyes to see, and ears to hearâ€. Here are stories of pain and beauty, challenge and consolation, but, above all, inspiration Liam Lawton is an award-winning, critically acclaimed Irish singer-songwriter, author and Roman Catholic priest, who was ordained in 1984. The poetic lyrics on his numerous platinum-selling albums are inspired by many sources, including the ancient texts of Celtic Ireland, from which he also draws inspiration for his haunting melodies. His music has been used in many an auspicious occasion, from the memorial services of 9/11 to concerts in such places as the Vatican, the White House, and The Chicago Symphony Hall. Liam’s choral music is used in choirs all over the English-speaking world and has been translated into Spanish, German, and Swedish.  He is author of the bestselling The Hope Prayer. Contents: A Time to Be Born, A Time to Plant, a Time to Uprood, A Time to Heal, A Time to Let Go, A Time to Weep, a Time to Laugh, A Time to Dance, A Time to Search, A Time to Keep, a Time to Throw Away, A Time to Share, A Time to Be Silent, A Time to Speak, A Time to Love, a Time to Hate, A Time for Peace, A Time to Embrace.
SKU: PR.114419810
ISBN 9781491136638. UPC: 680160681921.
Stacy Garrop’s ROAD WARRIOR is music of real-life tragedy, expressed through the power of a trumpet/organ duo. Drawing inspiration from Neil Peart’s autobiographical book, “Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road,†Garrop’s work grieves the loss of a friend’s young son and the journey to healing. ROAD WARRIOR’s evocative movement titles are drawn from passages in Peart’s book:1. I Am the Ghost Rider2. My Little Baby Soul3. Are You With Me Here?.When Clarion members Keith Benjamin (trumpet), Melody Steed (organ), and I initially discussed possible topics for a new piece, Keith brought up his son Cameron, who had passed away at the age of seven from leukemia. While Cameron’s life ended too soon, he left an indelible and lasting mark on his those surrounding him. Keith asked if I could commemorate Cameron musically.In talking over possible ways to do this, Keith mentioned the book Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road. The book was written by Neil Peart, who is well-known as the longtime drummer and lyricist of the band Rush. Peart suffered the heartbreaking loss of his daughter in 1997, followed by his wife 10 months later. In an effort to work through the grieving process, Peart did what his wife suggested before she passed: he got onto his motorcycle and hit the open road. Ghost Rider chronicles a year of Peart’s life in which he drove for 55,000 miles, zigzagging his way across Canada, the western portion of the United States, Mexico, and Belize. Peart’s powerful story illustrates how he coped with immense loss and eventually emerged on the other side to once again embrace life. Keith had found Peart’s book helpful in dealing with Cameron’s death; moreover, Mr. Peart sent Cameron a signed cymbal while he was in the hospital undergoing treatment. This unexpected gesture of compassion and generosity meant the world to both Cameron and Keith.I chose three phrases from Peart’s book to serve as the inspiration for the movements in Road Warrior. In the first movement, I am the ghost rider, I imagined the performers to be howling phantoms that are haunting drivers on a nearly deserted highway. Peart often mentioned that he felt haunted by ghosts from the past while on his journey, and sometimes felt like a ghost himself, moving through an immaterial world as he rode from town to town. The second movement, My little baby soul, references Peart’s wording to define his own inner essence that he was trying to protect and nurture while on his journey. In this gentle movement, I capture the innocence and simplicity of a newborn soul. The piece concludes with Are you with me here? In this movement, I depict the performers as they search to find connections to those they have lost, and to those still living.Over the course of his travels, Peart kept up a steady letter correspondence with his close friend Brutus. In one of his first letters, he repeatedly asks Brutus if he is with him in spirit. I found it to be very poignant that while in his self-imposed exile, Peart discovered that he still needed connections to humanity.I wish to thank Mr. Peart for granting me permission to use his phrases as the movement titles, and for serving as the inspiration for Road Warrior. Rarely do any of us make it through our lives without being touched by the loss of someone dear to us. I found Peart’s insights into his grieving and recovery process to be insightful, eloquent, and surprisingly comforting. His journey is a touching reminder that with enough fortitude and time, we can work through what fate deals us and continue down our own road of life.
SKU: CF.SPS71
ISBN 9781491143544. UPC: 680160901043. Key: G minor.
Nordanvind is a tour de force symphonic rhapsody that is built on three Scandinavian folk songs. Composer Carl Strommen has composed these Viking-influenced melodies into a concert setting that brings out all of the history of the Scandinavian people. The piece is at times bold and aggressive, at other times beautiful. Carl employs all of the instrumental colors of the concert band to create a new work for more advanced ensembles.Modern Scandinavians are descendants of the Vikings, an adventuresome people who were known for their love of the sea, their naval prowess, and as fierce fighters . The Scandinavian Vikings were warriors from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden who traded, raided and settled in various parts of Europe, Russia, the North Atlantic islands, and the northeastern coast of North America .Starting around 1850, over one million Swedes left their homeland for the United States in search of religious freedom and open farm land . Augustana College was founded in 1860 by graduates of Swedish universities and is located on the Mississippi River in Rock Island, Illinois . Home of the “Vikings,†Augustana College is the oldest Swedish- American institution of higher learning in the United States . This powerful and lively piece takes inspiration from Swedish history and from Swedish folk songs and hymns .Havsdrake (Dragon of the Sea)The Nordanvind or “North Wind†blows a cold wind during a journey of a group of courageous Viking rowers . The “Dragon-ship†or long ships designed for raiding and war was a sophisticated, fast ship able to navigate in very shallow water . To musically portray these magnificent seafaring vessels, the director is encouraged to use an Ocean Drum (or a rain stick) during the introduction . Wind players may consider blowing air through their instruments to suggest the North wind . Adding men’s voices to accompany the haunting low brass and percussive “rower†sounds can be helpful in creating the dark and ominous portrayal of Viking adventurers .Slangpolska efter Byss - KalleIn Sweden, a “polska†is a partner dance where the dancers spin each other (släng in Swedish “to sling or tossâ€) . Slangpolska efter Byss - Kalle is attributed to Byss-Kalle, who was a notable Swedish folk musician, specifically a nyckelharpa player . Slangpolska efter Byss - Kalle is a traditional “polska†dance song most often played on the Nyckelharpa or keyed fiddle and is commonly heard in pubs and at festive events throughout Sweden . Approximately 10,000 nyckelharpa players live in Sweden today, and the Swedish and the American Nyckelharpa Associations are dedicated to this Swedish National instrument . The director is encouraged to share video and audio examples of the nyckelharpa playing the original Slangpolska efter Byss - Kalle .Tryggare Kan Ingen Vara (Children of the Heavenly Father)Tryggare Kan Ingen Vara Is a traditional Swedish melody, possibly of German roots, and was believed to be arranged as a hymn by the Swedish hymn writer, Karolina Wilhelmina Sandell-Berg (1832–1903) . As a daughter of a Swedish Lutheran minister, she began writing poems as a teenager and is said to have written over 1,700 different texts . There are two different accounts as to the inspiration for this hymn . The first story is that Lina (as she was called) wrote the hymn to honor her father and to say thank you to him for raising her and protecting her . A second belief is of her witnessing the tragic death of her father . She and her father were on a boat, when a wave threw her father overboard . It was said that the profound effect of watching her father drown is what caused Lina to write the text to this hymn . Although this is a treasured song to people of Swedish descent everywhere, it speaks to all people about a father tending and nourishing his children, and protecting them from evil .SPS71FThe Augustana College Concert BandFounded in 1874, the Augustana Band program is one of the oldest continuously active collegiate band programs in the country . The Concert Band is one of two bands on campus and was formed more than thirty years ago . The Concert Band attracts students of every skill level and from a wide variety of majors . Students in the ensemble play a large part in choosing their music for performance, which include works from the standard repertoire, orchestral transcriptions, and the latest compositions from leading composers .Rick Jaeschke began his musical career as a clarinet player in the 1st US Army Band . He received a Bachelor of Music degree from Susquehanna University, a Masters of Music from James Madison University, and a doctorate from Columbia University in New York . He was also fortunate to study conducting with Donald Hunsburger and with Frederick Fennell .Dr . Jaeschke taught band and choir at Great Mills High School in Southern Maryland, and for fifteen years, he was the district Music Supervisor in Armonk, New York, where he taught high school concert and jazz bands, beginning band, and music technology . During that time, the music program flourished, and the high school band consistently received Gold Medals in the New York State Festivals, as well as in national, and international festivals . As a clarinet and saxophone player, Dr . Jaeschke performed in the New York metropolitan area with the Rockland Symphony Orchestra, the Putnam Symphony Orchestra, Fine Arts Symphony Orchestra, and served as the concert master for the Hudson Valley Wind Symphony .For several years, Dr . Jaeschke served as the Fine Arts Coordinator for the District 204 schools in Naperville, IL, a district selected as One of the Best 100 Schools in America for Music . Currently, Dr . Jaeschke is an Associate Professor at Augustana College where he teaches music and music education courses, and directs the Concert Band . He has served on various educational boards, is a National edTPA scorer, and has presented at state, national and international music conferences . He lives with his family in Bettendorf Iowa, and enjoys any opportunity to explore the open water in his sea kayak .
SKU: BA.BA06861
ISBN 9790260104211. 34.3 x 27 cm inches.
LeoÅ¡ Janácek’s symphonic fragment Dunaj (The Danube) dates from the period of the composition of “Katya Kabanovaâ€. The composer was not concerned with a musical-picturesque description of a river landscape, but with the mythical link between women’s destinies and water.“Pale green waves of the Danube! There are so many of you, and one followed by another. You remain interlocked in a continuous flow. You surprise yourselves where you ended up – on the Czech shores! Look back downstream and you will have an impression of what you have left behind in your haste. It pleases you here. Here I will rest with my symphony.†Thus LeoÅ¡ Janácek described the idea behind the composition project which occupied him in 1923/24. However, after further work, it remained incomplete in 1926. His “symphony†entitled Dunaj has survived as a continuously-notated, four-movement bundle of sketches in score form. It is one of the works which occupied him until his death. The scholarly reconstruction by the two Brno composers MiloÅ¡ Å tedron and LeoÅ¡ Faltus closely follows the original manuscript.A whole conglomeration of motifs stands behind the incomplete work. What at first seems like a counterpart to Smetana’s Vltava, in fact doesn’t turn out to be a musical depiction of the Danube. On the contrary, the fateful link between the destiny of women, water and death permeates the range of motifs found in the work. It seems to be no coincidence that Janácek, whilst working on the opera Katya Kabanova, in which the Volga, as the river bringing death plays an almost mythical role, planned a Danube symphony, and that its content was linked with the destiny of women: in the sketches, two poems were found which may have provided the stimulus for several movements of the symphony. He copied a poem by Pavla Kriciková into the second movement, in which a girl remarks that whilst bathing in a pond, she was observed by a man. Filled with shame, the young naked woman jumps into the water and drowns. The outer movements likewise draw on the poem “Lola†by the Czech writer Sonja Å pálová, published under the pseudonym Alexander Insarov. This is about a prostitute who asks for her heart’s desire: she is given a palace, but then goes on a long search for it and is finally no longer wanted by anyone. She suffers, feels cold and just wants a warm fire. Janácek adds his remark “she jumps into the Danube†to the inconclusive ending.To these tangible literary models is added Adolf Veselý’s verbal account which reports that the composer wanted to portray “in the Danube, the female sex with all its passions and driving forcesâ€. The third movement is said to characterise the city of Vienna in the form of a woman.It is evident that in his composition, Janácek was not striving for a simple, natural lyricism. The River Danube is masculine in the Slavic language – “ten Dunaj†– and assumes an almost mythical significance in the national character, indeed often also a role bringing death. The four movements are motivically conceived. Elements of sound painting, small wave-like figures in the first movement, motoric, driving movements in the third are obvious evocations of water. And the content and the literary level are easy to discover. The “tremolo of the four timpaniâ€, which was amongst Janácek’s first inspirations, appears in the second movement. It is not difficult to retrace in it the fate of the drowning bather. The oboe enters lamentoso towards the end of the movement over timpani playing tremolo, its descending figure is taken over by the flute, then upper strings and intensified considerably. The motif of drowning – Lola’s despair – returns again in the fourth movement in the clarinet, before the work ends abruptly and dramatically.One special effect is the use of a soprano voice in the motor-driven third movement. The singer vocalises mainly in parallel with the solo oboe, but also in dialogue with other parts such as the viola d’amore, which Janácek used in several late works as a sort of “voice of loveâ€.
About Barenreiter Urtext
What can I expect from a Barenreiter Urtext edition?
MUSICOLOGICALLY SOUND - A reliable musical text based on all available sources - A description of the sources - Information on the genesis and history of the work - Valuable notes on performance practice - Includes an introduction with critical commentary explaining source discrepancies and editorial decisions ... AND PRACTICAL - Page-turns, fold-out pages, and cues where you need them - A well-presented layout and a user-friendly format - Excellent print quality - Superior paper and binding
SKU: GI.G-10563
ISBN 9781622775996.
Conductor, chorus director, airplane pilot, educator, activist, mentor, and advocate Margaret Hillis blazed a trail upon which many continue to tread. The first woman to regularly conduct a major symphony orchestra, she was the founder of the Chicago Symphony Chorus and served for thirty-seven years as its first director, winning nine Grammy Awards. She was also a flight instructor for the U.S. Navy during World War II, an influential member of the National Endowment for the Arts, and built a reputation for her meticulous score preparation and innovative methods of refining choruses into superb ensembles. She earned the respect of the world’s major conductors along with the admiration and affection of many musicians, colleagues, and music lovers. But as compelling as what Margaret Hillis achieved is how she deftly circumvented the constant barriers in fields where women were not welcome. Further complicating her career aspirations, Margaret Hillis was a lesbian woman in an era when such an identity would have certainly ended her career. In Margaret Hillis: Unsung Pioneer, author Cheryl Frazes Hill—a longtime colleague and associate—examines how Hillis was able to overcome the many challenges she faced, navigating a career in ways relatable not only to musicians but also to women in all professions. Margaret Hillis’s story is one of resilience, determination, and passion for music. Her journey is an inspiration, a portrait of what it takes to succeed at the highest level in any field. Dr. Cheryl Frazes Hill is the Conductor of the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus and the Associate Conductor of the Chicago Symphony Chorus (CSC). Beginning as a member of the CSC in 1976, Margaret Hillis appointed Frazes Hill to the CSC conducting staff in 1987. Frazes Hill has served as professor of music at Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts since 2002. A frequent guest conductor, Frazes Hill is a published writer for national education and choral journals on topics of her research in music education and choral conducting. She is married to Dr. Gary Hill, and they have two children, Carlyn and Mitchell.  We are living in an age when strong women are accomplishing amazing things—and this is the story of a woman who succeeded in the male world of orchestral conducting and established the award-winning Chicago Symphony Chorus. Her life consisted of challenges continually met and conquered, and her relentless drive for excellence in her profession. Cheryl Frazes Hill gives us a carefully researched, balanced, and well-written account of her eventful life and achievements. —Alice Parker   Renowned conductor, composer, and longtime friend of Margaret Hillis Cheryl Frazes Hill was in a unique position to observe the career of Margaret Hillis because she was close to her on a personal and professional level. What is particularly gratifying about this biography is that it is clearly the work of someone who admires Margaret Hillis’s accomplishments, but at the same time Frazes Hill has retained a balanced objectivity about her subject. I came away from reading this with a greatly increased knowledge about Margaret Hillis, along with a deep appreciation for what she accomplished as a true pioneer. —Henry Fogel   Former President, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, League of American Orchestras   Dean Emeritus, Chicago College of Performing Arts, Roosevelt University.
SKU: PO.PE212
ISBN 9781776609321.
Inspired by the Chinese Zodiac animals, Ho tailored this book of twelve piano compositions to the educational needs of students in Levels 2 to 7 of the Royal Conservatory of Music Piano Series. Ho devoted much time to researching the animals legends, personality traits, and cultural significance, as well as their distinguishing physical languages so as to capture their musical spirit and recreate their physical/gestural languages in pianistic form. In addition, he incorporates many sounds, harmonies, and performance techniques learned from his years of researching (and composing for) Chinese traditional instruments.
SKU: GI.G-CD-605
Prayer and praise hymns have become an integral part of the sacred hymnody of the African American religious experience. Twenty years after the Emancipation, the children of the slaves found themselves living in the reality of separateness, and their religious practice turned increasingly inward. A unique body of hymnody grew out of that period, approximately 1885–1925. These are songs of Southern origin, of a rural people working the land. These songs are different from spirituals and Black meter music, yet show their influences. These songs are Bible-based, highly repetitive in accord with the nature of oral tradition, and of anonymous authorship. Wyatt Tee Walker has researched this segment of the history of African American church music more than any other known scholar. His original three paperback volumes have been edited and combined by James Abbington into this clothbound edition worthy of its historical and musical significance. The book now includes a recording of the twenty-four selected “prayer and praise†hymns researched by Rev. Dr. Walker. This exciting CD highlights not only the hymns, but the singing style of the period as well, being faithful to the impromptu harmonies and dissonance brought about by inspired song. A separate songbook for choirs and congregations is also available, making this valuable repertoire accessible for use in Sunday worship.
SKU: PR.114423640
UPC: 680160688562.
The first time I saw slipstreaming in action with professional cyclists, I was in awe. The competitors were riding inches away from each other; when the lead rider would swerve left or right, the pursuers would immediately follow suit. The physics behind what appears on the surface to be sheer daredevil antics are quite solid: the cyclists riding directly behind the leader are benefitting from reduced air and wind resistance. On a larger scale, a peloton (the French term for a pack of riders) benefits multiple riders whoare behind the leaders of the pack. While riding so close to other riders carries great risk of colliding, that risk is outweighed by the benefit of preserving one’s energy.Slipstream was inspired by the love of cycling shared by Haley Hoops, horn, and Stephen Ahearn, clarinet, for whom the piece was commissioned. They are drawn to cycling for the adventure of it, to discover new places, and to meet new people. Haley also expressed her enjoyment of taking solo bike rides. Additionally, I found great inspiration in watching the daily highlight videos of the three-week 2020 Tour de France, which happened to be taking place while I composed Slipstream.The piece opens with The Horizon Beckons. A cyclist hears an enticing call emanating from the mountains, then the cyclist starts pedaling towards the mountains in search of adventure. Riding Solo, the second movement, explores the quiet of riding alone, the beauty of the landscape, and the shifting of the light and clouds, all while we hear the bike’s wheels in constant motion. Adrenaline Rush, the third and final movement, depicts the heat of competition. We hear the constant jockeying of cyclists within a peloton as they slipstream with each other and move with the wind. At the very end of the movement, we hear sprinters race for the finish line with everything they have left in their legs.
SKU: PE.EP73535B
ISBN 9790577022833. Words by Vikram Seth.
Earth and Sky was commissioned by the BBC for the Proms 2000 season. In keeping with the millennial theme, a work presenting a vision of the future was requested. Trying to be helpful, the BBC provided me with the predictions of various pundits, but their ideas seemed dizzyingly contradictory. Then the simple thought struck me that however varied and complex the answers, the big questions will always remain the same. We may now have a map of the human genome, but how to use the map? How shall I know where I should go? How may I see the I that's me?As a musician I am hopeful that, no matter how the world develops, future generations will still come together to dance and sing and play. The mysterious power of music to bind us socially and inspire us individually seems to be built into our genes. So, a song of questions; a song about music---these were the ideas which I took to Vikram Seth, who had generously agreed to write the words for me. The resulting poem provided lots of inspiration. It is entirely monosyllabic, enabling considerable variety of rhythmic treatment. I love its permutations and its imagery of paradox and inversion and I have amused myself by playing similar games with the musical material. But there is seriousness as well as fun---the text's juxtaposition of the certainty of death with the search for purpose in life achieves great poignancy when sung by young voices.(Alec Roth)This product is Printed on Demand and may take several weeks to fulfill.
SKU: PE.EP73535C
ISBN 9790577022840. Words by Vikram Seth.
SKU: PE.EP73535
ISBN 9790577022581. Words by Vikram Seth.