6 Dances for String Quartet

SKU: FG.55009-420-8

ISBN 979-0-55009-420-8.

Dancescapes (Nuorvala's String Quartet No. 1) professes to be a three-movement work, but the introduction, main movement and epilogue are played without a break and leave impression of a one-movement form. The dominating trait of Nuorvala's quartet is without doubt its incredibly rich and subtle use of rhythm - an aspect which the works subtitle leads us to expect.

SKU: HL.14037707

ISBN 9781849385916. UPC: 884088578626. 8.25x11.75x0.262 inches.

Kevin Volans' String Quartet No. 9: Shiva Dances was commissioned by BBC Radio 3 and first performed by the Smith Quartet at the 2004 Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival.

Kevin Volans (the composer) notes on the piece:
In the past I have been interested in trying to go beyond historicism (1970s), beyond style(1980s) and beyond form (1990s) in my work. Looking back over the music of the twentiethcentury I was struck by the fact the nearlyall of it is extremely 'busy', almost cluttered. Italmost seemed that composers felt compelled to look industrious. In the new millennium Ithought it would be interesting to try and eliminate content. I also aspired to movingfrommusic (sound as art) to art (art as sound). This, of course, has already been done by a numberof composers (many from New York - Phil Niblock and La Monte Young, to name but two), butit was something I had never tried.AlthoughI found it annoying that the label 'minimalist' was given to my African-based work,and fearing this would make the label stick, I set out to write a piece which reflected my loveof minimal painting and architecture. The Japanesehave a term 'wabi' meaning 'voluntarypoverty' or 'emptiness' to describe their restrained minimal aesthetic, an aesthetic which,however, pays greatest attention to the quality of material and fine detail. I like to think thatthelack of excessive pitch material in this piece reflects a kind of voluntary poverty.When Shiva is portrayed dancing (as Nataraj) He is depicted in a circle of flames crushing asmall figure - the ego - underfoot.You get theimpression He dances on the spot, not movingaround at all. I like that.
The piece is dedicated to Pablo Pascual Cilleruelo.

SKU: BT.EMBZ14109

English-German-Hungari an.

In the string quartets published in the series 'Music for Beginners', every part can be played in the first position. When a viola is not available it may be replaced by a third violin: the part is provided in both alto and treble clef versions in this publication. The volume begins with the characteristic Viennese classical dances (contredanse, Ländler, minuet), which can be played even after just one or two years' of diligent instrumental study. These are followed by more extensive string quartets with several movements, which prepare students for playing more serious chamber music. The works are published in score form as well as parts, to make it easier to navigate among themusical material and to assist with the work of rehearsal.

SKU: ST.Y248

ISBN 9790220222351.

Comm issioned by Bromsgrove Concerts with financial assistance from Arts Council England
1st perf: Smith Quartet, Artrix, Bromsgrove, 27 February 2009

Favoured by English composers from Purcell to Vaughan Williams and Britten, the ground-bass form receives a contemporary makeover in Morgan Hayes's Dances on a Ground. Artfully four-square, a cello ostinato stays stubbornly true to its original thoughts. Meanwhile, above it a capricious ensemble of two violins and viola swaggers its way through flights of melody and jumpy pizzicati to an ecstatic conclusion. Commissioned by Bromsgrove Concerts with funding provided by Arts Council England, Dances on a Ground was first performed by the innovative Smith Quartet at the Artrix, Bromsgrove, on 27 February 2009.

SKU: AP.36-50703012

ISBN 9781628762532. UPC: 660355076503. English.

Brahms composed 21 Hungarian Dances beginning in 1869. All were composed for piano, but many of them have been orchestrated and are performed by symphony orchestras. They are based on Hungarian folk songs and dances, and No. 5 is the most popular. Standard interpretation includes many tempo changes with the Violin 1 part requiring more advanced technique.

These products are currently being prepared by a new publisher. While many items are ready and will ship on time, some others may see delays of several months.

SKU: EC.LMP046

These Four Dances from CLORINDA AGONISTES (Clorinda the warrior) are taken from a recently completed dramatic work; a hybrid opera & dance theatre work currently of the same title. The name Clorinda comes from Monteverdi’s opera Il Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda , whose libretto is from the epic poem by Tasso titled, Gerusalemme Liberata (Jerusalem Liberated). The dramatic work, which was commissioned by the London based Shobana Jeyasingh Dance company, the Sadler’s Wells Theatre and the Royal Philharmonic Society, was composed as a companion piece to Monteverdi’s Il Combattimento.

Contents:
I. Transitions
II. Pursuit
III. Shawq شوق (Yearning)
IV. Unity (We dance together)

SKU: HL.49008109

ISBN 9790001120678. UPC: 073999881493. 9.0x12.0x0.268 inches.

'Christmas * Peace on Earth' is the leading motive of the String Quartet, a tenet of faith as well as an expression of hope. In the first part of the work Vasks uses themes from a well-known Christmas carol, while the second part is strongly influenced by Latvian folksongs and dances. The third section, with a chromaticiscm strongly reminiscent of Shostakovitch, investigates and questions the feasibility of any peace in our society. The final, calm and slightly melancholy section symbolizes 'Peace on Earth' by means of sonorous sustained choirs.