Introduction And Variation

SKU: KJ.GB893F

Festive Variations on Lasst uns Erfreuen, is based freely on the German chorale melody more commonly known as All Creatures of Our God and King. In five variations, this work begins with an Allegro introduction in 6/8, followed by a serene statement of the theme. The first variation reflects the 6/8 optimism of the introduction. The second has a more majestic texture in 3/4 time, featuring brass and percussion. The third variation is a scherzo, fairly fragmentary and more disjunct than the others. This is the most academic of the variations. The fourth is a gentle ballad freely based on the first four notes of the melody. The fifth variation returns to the complete melody, found in a fugato with variations within. Before the work concludes, the original introduction and theme are restated in their first form, followed by a coda based on the introductory motive.

SKU: BT.DHP-1165730-130

English-German-French- Dutch.

After the introduction, in which the landscape of Groningen with its beautiful wide views is presented, follows five variations based on the 13th-century Gregorian theme Dies Irae that is attributed to Thomas van Celano. Each variation can be seen as a stage or a scene in the rich history of the village of Grijpskerk, making this work a very exciting and expressive piece of music for a contest or a concert.

Na de inleiding, waarin het Groninger landschap met zijn prachtige vergezichten wordt voorgesteld, volgen vijf variaties die zijn gebaseerd op het 13e-eeuwse gregoriaanse thema Dies Irae, dat wordt toegeschreven aan Thomas van Celano. Elke variatie is terug te voeren tot een markante gebeurtenis uit de rijke geschiedenis van de plaats Grijpskerk, waarmee dit werk een aantrekkelijk, expressief stuk muziek is waarmee je voor de dag kunt komen bij een wedstrijd of een concert.

Nach der Einleitung, in der die Gegend Groningens mit ihren schönen weiten Landschaften vorgestellt wird, folgen fünf Variationen über das gregorianische Thema Dies Irae aus dem 13. Jahrhundert, das Thomas von Celano zugeschrieben wird. Jede Variation kann als eine Station oder Szene aus der bedeutenden Geschichte dieses Ortes betrachtet werden. Dieses spannende und ausdrucksvolle Werk eignet sich gut für Wettbewerbe, aber auch als Konzertstück.

L ’introduction, qui évoque le paysage de Groningen avec ses magnifiques vues étendues, est suivie de cinq variations basées sur le thème grégorien du XIIIe siècle, Dies Irae, qui est attribué Thomas de Celano. Chaque variation peut être considérée comme une étape ou une scène de la riche histoire du village, ce qui fait que cette œuvre formidable et expressive se prête parfaitement un concours ou un concert.

SKU: CF.FAS83

ISBN 9780825894572. UPC: 798408094577. 9 x 12 inches. Key: D major.

Williamsburg Variations takes an original theme reminiscent of songs from early nineteenth-century America, and develops it over several variations into a variety of styles. A great introduction to the idea of theme and variations, this will make your developing orchestra sound great at any festival.
This composition was inspired by a visit to Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. The opening theme is reminiscent of a hymn of the eighteenth century with a hint of Chester in mm. 5 and 15. The variations are indicative of the hustle and bustle of colonial life that required a strong work ethic to survive, and the fife and drums variation shows a glimpse of Yankee Doodle in mm. 34-44. The theme should be played as a legato chorale. The variations are to be played with energy and the D Major Key will enhance that style. In mm. 34-44 the viola, cello and bass quarter notes should be short and accented to imitate field drums.The unison violins are the fifes in this fife-and-drum section. The final variation at m. 52 is a combination of three prior melodies so all lines are equally important.The melodic and moving parts create interest in all the instruments and should provide for an excellent festival or contest piece. I hope your students enjoy playing this music.

SKU: HL.44013223

UPC: 888680889050.

After the introduction, in which the landscape of Groningen with its beautiful wide views is presented, follows five variations based on the 13th-century Gregorian theme Dies Irae that is attributed to Thomas van Celano. Each variation can be seen as a stage or a scene in the rich history of the village of Grijpskerk, making this work a very exciting and expressive piece of music for a contest or a concert.

SKU: BR.EB-8511

Breitkopf Urtext on the basis of the Reger Complete Edition ed. by Hans Klotz, critically examined by Martin Weyer with an introduction by Hans Haselbock

ISBN 9790004178041. 9 x 12 inches.

A key work in Reger's organ production from the time of its first publication in 1902 up to today, the famous F-minor Passacaglia from Op. 63 has cast its spell on generations of organ lovers. The dark bass strides quietly through the depths, persistently and secretly like time itself; a ghostly breath murmurs about the heights and rustles through light leaves; and from within emerges a voice which rises and falls in a seemingly aimless manner, and which speaks more than it sings... (Gustav-Robert Tornow on the 8th variation of the Passacaglia in his 1907 introduction to the work).

SKU: PR.110418370

ISBN 9781491135075. UPC: 680160686247.

Compo sed as an organ solo by the 17-year-old Ives for his own performance purposes, the beloved Variations on America is a treat for any occasion, whether a holiday concert, a serious recital, or other special event. Danny Holt’s transcription for Piano, Four Hands adds a dazzling new option to play at home or on stage, taking best advantage of Ives’ tremendous contrasts in color, dynamics, and texture.
Composed when Charles Ives was a teenager, Variations on “America” is both a convenient introduction to Ives’ body of work, and an early example of his iconoclastic musical voice and creative genius. Just a few years after composing this piece, Ives would leave home to study music at Yale. But until then he had been taught by his father, George (who had been a bandmaster in the Civil War). George subjected the young Ives to experiments such as singing a song in one key while being accompanied in another, or arranging for two marching bands to converge on a town center, with the resulting cacophony that ensued.The Variations exemplifies an early period of experimentation in Ives’ work, spurred on by the unusual pedagogy of his father. The piece is particularly notable for its use of bitonality in the two interludes, subtly foreshadowing more well-known examples by Stravinsky, Bartók, and others by approximately two decades.The bitonal interludes were so ahead of their time, in fact, they were omitted from the first copy that was submitted to a publisher in 1892. (Alas, the piece was rejected even despite these “shocking” elements having been left out, and it wasn’t published until more than five decades later.) There is some ambiguity about when exactly Ives added the interludes into his manuscript copy, though ample evidence suggests he had performed the piece with the interludes around the time he notated the piece in 1891-92. In any case, in light of this piece and his other polytonal explorations from the last decade of the 19th century, it seems fair to give Ives credit for being a pioneer in this area!This arrangement for Piano, Four Hands, closely follows Ives’ original version for organ, setting aside William Schuman’s popular adaptation for symphony orchestra and William Rhoads’ band transcription of the Schuman orchestration. Pianists will find that the piece translates well to the instrument. Ideally, the choreography and logistics of elbow-to-elbow four-hands playing approximates the wild joy one gets from watching an organist play the piece (e.g., the elaborate pedal part in the final variation).In preparing this publication, attention was paid to details in the dual Critical Editions (Presser 443-41003) of both Ives’ manuscript edition and the 1949 publication edited by organist E. Power Biggs (who is credited with discovering what had been a long-lost, forgotten work.) But as with much of Ives’ output, attempting to create a true ‘urtext’ score is a futile endeavor, and especially with a piece such as this one – in which Ives incorporated improvisation in live performance – seems unnecessary anyhow. True die-hards are of course encouraged to consult the critical editions and even find inspiration in the orchestrated version. Generally, performers are advised to be wild, have fun, and not to be too rigid in their interpretive choices.Dynamics in this arrangement mostly follow the organ score closely. Pianists will use good judgment about pedaling throughout, which should be straightforward and intuitive. Courtesy accidentals have been provided frequently – without parentheses – balancing the need for extra clarity in the context of Ives’ murky musical language, and a desire to avoid unnecessary clutter.A few notes that might inform interpretive decisions:mm. 15-16: There are inconsistencies here between Ives’ original manuscript and the 1949 Biggs edition, regarding the top voice in m. 15, beat 3 (C# vs. Cn) and m. 16 (D Major vs. D Minor).mm. 76-84 & 143-146: In both Interludes, Ives emphatically notates extreme dynamic contrast, in order to highlight the bitonality. Although it may seem counterintuitive (or even a misprint, as has apparently been misconstrued by some), performers are urged to follow the composer’s marking!m. 109: Two-note slurs have been added here for clarity and consistency with other similar passages, though they do not appear in either the original manuscript or Biggs.m. 112: The last two eighth notes of Primo appear as 16ths in the original manuscript.mm. 183-186: The original manuscript has a slightly different bass line.mm. 184 & 186: Primo gestures have been re-written to be slightly more idiomatic for Piano, Four Hands.m. 186: The breath mark at the end of this bar does not appear in either the manuscript or Biggs, but is an editorial suggestion – aside from being appropriately dramatic, it will indeed be necessary in a reverberant hall!I would like to thank Steven Vanhauwaert, the other half of my piano duo, 4handsLA, for his input on early drafts of this arrangement.— Danny Holt, April 2022.