SKU: HL.49045639
ISBN 9781540004796. UPC: 888680710774. 9.5x12.0x0.37 inches.
Chaconne (2016), for string quartet, was commissioned by the Daedalus Quartet to celebrate its 15th anniversary. The commission was supported by New Music USA, made possible by annual program support and/or endowment gifts from Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Helen F. Whitaker Fund, and Aaron Copland Fund for Music.My music has a substantial history with Daedalus. I composed the Third String Quartet (2008) for them, and subsequently they performed my three string quartets on several occasions and recorded them brilliantly on Bridge Records (Bridge 9352: Music of Fred Lerdahl, vol. 3). Chaconne is in one movement lasting 19 minutes. It is effectively my fourth string quartet. Quartets 1-3 form a unified cycle lasting 70 minutes. When I finished the cycle, I thought I would never write again for the medium; yet I could not resist the opportunity of working again with Daedalus. The issue was how to compose another string quartet unrelated to the earlier cycle. The solution came from my solo cello piece There and Back Again (2010), which was based on a four-bar variation pattern from a 17th-century chaconne. Unlike the asymmetrical phrases and expanding variations of much of my music, the chaconne form requires symmetrical phrases and strictly periodic variations. I wished to work again with these symmetries but on a larger scale. Chaconne also differs in character and expression from the three-quartet cycle. The cycle is inward and intense, a kind of psychological excavation. Chaconne is, for the most part, transparent and playful. Many of its textures emerge from little canons, not completely unlike the rounds that children sing. Any composer who writes in chaconne form (one thinks above all of the last movement of Bach's D minor violin partita and the finale of Brahms's Fourth Symphony) is confronted with the challenge of how to create a larger form out of a constantly repeating pattern.My Chaconne grows from paired antecedent-consequent phrases, each variation lasting eight bars. The 50 variations group into three large rotations, forming three arcs of tension and relaxation, with subtle parallel connections across the rotations. Notwithstanding my attraction to chaconne form, I purposefully disguised its symmetries and periodicities in order to build an overall dramatic shape. Fred Lerdahl.
SKU: PR.114414290
UPC: 680160594030.
Written for Concertante, a string sextet which has commissioned six different works, each highlighting one of its players. In Ran's new work, the second cellist, Zvi Plesser, was spotlighted with an outgoing, intensely lyrical opening theme, according to a New York Times review. Yet, Lyre of Orpheus never overlooks the collaborative, conversational essence of the ensemble. Read the full review here: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/18/arts/music/18conc.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1286200920-wRrt7MJ416+FpOYAUe/IOQ For advanced performers.Lyre of Orpheus was composed for Concertante, the New York-based string sextet, for its One Plus Five Project, a three-year, six-composer commissioning project designed to create six string sextets, each featuring one of Concertante’s core players.This particular commission was made with the goal of giving center-stage to the ensemble’s first cello, a choice I was especially grateful for, not only because it features Zvi Plesser, the outstanding Israeli cellist, but also because it gave ma an opportunity to highlight an instrument for which, from a very early stage in my life, I have felt a special affinity. The cell’s “soulâ€, so naturally combining passion and lyricism, has always touched me in a special way.As sometimes happens, naming the piece was the final act in the process of creation. Once titled, though, I found myself looking through the piece with a mixture of delight and astonishment – the narrative of the almost iconic mythological story of love and loss seems as one entirely plausible, and to my mind convincing, way to tract the unfolding of the musical events. Of course, the music was written with no such tale (or any tale, for that matter) in mind. But perhaps some stories are emblematic of so much that is part of our lives and psyches, of our desires, fears and wishes. Orpheus, whose longing for Eurydice recognizes no boundaries of heaven and hell… Love regained, then forever lost… Orpheus’ lyre intoning his sorrowful yearning…Lyre of Orpheus, approximately fifteen minutes in length, composed in late 2008, is intermittently songful, caressing, passionate, pained, ferocious, longing. The instrumentation consists of 2 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos, the first of which is the soloist/protagonist, the second notable for having its lowest string tuned down a third to achieve extra lower notes.This commission has been made possible by the Chamber Music America Commissioning Program, with funding generously provided by the Aaron Copland Fund for Music, and the Chamber Music America Endowment Fund.
SKU: PR.11441429S
UPC: 680160594054. 9.5 x 13 inches.
Written for Concertante, a string sextet which has commissioned six different works, each highlighting one of its players. In Ran's new work, the second cellist, Zvi Plesser, was spotlighted with an outgoing, intensely lyrical opening theme, according to a New York Times review. Yet, Lyre of Orpheus never overlooks the collaborative, conversational essence of the ensemble. Read the full review here: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/18/arts/music/18conc.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1286200920-wRrt7MJ416+FpOYAUe/IOQ For advanced performers.Lyre of Orpheus was composed for Concertante, the New York-based string sextet, for its One Plus Five Project, a three-year, six-composer commissioning project designed to create six string sextets, each featuring one of Concertante’s core players. This particular commission was made with the goal of giving center-stage to the ensemble’s first cello, a choice I was especially grateful for, not only because it features Zvi Plesser, the outstanding Israeli cellist, but also because it gave ma an opportunity to highlight an instrument for which, from a very early stage in my life, I have felt a special affinity. The cell’s “soulâ€, so naturally combining passion and lyricism, has always touched me in a special way. As sometimes happens, naming the piece was the final act in the process of creation. Once titled, though, I found myself looking through the piece with a mixture of delight and astonishment – the narrative of the almost iconic mythological story of love and loss seems as one entirely plausible, and to my mind convincing, way to tract the unfolding of the musical events. Of course, the music was written with no such tale (or any tale, for that matter) in mind. But perhaps some stories are emblematic of so much that is part of our lives and psyches, of our desires, fears and wishes. Orpheus, whose longing for Eurydice recognizes no boundaries of heaven and hell… Love regained, then forever lost… Orpheus’ lyre intoning his sorrowful yearning… Lyre of Orpheus, approximately fifteen minutes in length, composed in late 2008, is intermittently songful, caressing, passionate, pained, ferocious, longing. The instrumentation consists of 2 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos, the first of which is the soloist/protagonist, the second notable for having its lowest string tuned down a third to achieve extra lower notes. This commission has been made possible by the Chamber Music America Commissioning Program, with funding generously provided by the Aaron Copland Fund for Music, and the Chamber Music America Endowment Fund.—Shulamit Ran.
SKU: PR.11441271S
UPC: 680160587094. 8.5 x 11 inches. Poem by Du Fu (712-770 in Tang Dynasty).
It's like the welcome rain on a quiet spring night that nurtures the budding seeds, our new society is pushing us forward to the new future. This music reflects the scenes and the expression according to the meaning of the poem when it's being unfolded line by line. Although the tempo is set 60-70 quarter notes per minute throughout (played vividly, never slow down), the tension is being built up from the quiet background in the beginning, to the sustained climax towards the end. The musical image in Rehersal A and B (measures 1 - 41) represents the first four lines of the poem. The woodwind instruments response to the rustling of fast moving notes on muted string triplets, decorated by occasional strokes produced by metallic string sound and high piano gestures. The music in Rehersal C and D (measures 42-87) represents the next two lines of the poem. It's so dark, a little light in the boat is shimmering on the lake... The breathy key slaps on the flute creates a mysterious atmosphere, in a dialogue with other instruments. The cello glissandi recite the poem in the tone of Mandarin, echoed by the string harmonics. The music in Rehersal E, F, G (m 88 - 161) is a toccata, starting with the piano, which builds up a big shape, to reach the climax in m. 116, and keeps the vivid scene towards the coda (Rehersal H, m. 162 - the end), which stands on the energetic peak at the end of the piece.Commissioned by the Music From Copland House ensemble, supported by a grant from the NYSCA’s Composer’s Commissions program in 2002, my mixed ensemble piece Happy Rain on a Spring Night is written for all five instruments in the ensemble: flute, clarinet, violin, cello and piano, and premiered on Oct. 18, 2004, at Merkin Hall in New York.  The musical imagination came from an ancient Chinese poem with the same title, written by Du Fu (712-770) in the Tang Dynasty. Happy Rain on a Spring Nightby Du Fu (712-770 in the Tang Dynasty) Happy rain comes in time,When spring is in its prime.With night breeze it will fall,And quietly moisten all.Clouds darken wild roads,Light brightens a little boat.Saturated at dawn,With flowers blooming the town. (English translation by Chen Yi from the original poem in Chinese) It’s like the welcome rain on a quiet spring night that nurtures the budding seeds; our new society is pushing us forward to the new future.  The music reflects the scenes and the expression according to the meaning of the poem when it’s being unfolded line by line.  Although the tempo is set 60-70 quarter notes per minute throughout (played vividly, never slowing down), the tension is being built up from the quiet background in the beginning, to the sustained climax towards the end. The musical image in Rehearsal A and B (measures 1-41) represents the first four lines of the poem.  The woodwind instruments respond to the rustling of fast moving notes on muted string triplets, decorated by occasional strokes produced by metallic string sound and high piano gestures.  The music in Rehearsal C and D (measures 42-87) represents the next two lines of the poem.  It’s so dark, a little light in the boat is shimmering on the lake...  The breathy key slaps on the flute create a mysterious atmosphere, in a dialogue with other instruments.  The cello glissandi recite the poem in the tone of Mandarin, echoed by the string harmonics.  The music in Rehearsal E, F and G (m 88-161) is a toccata, starting with the piano, which builds up a big shape, to reach the climax in m. 116, and keeps the vivid scene towards the coda (Rehearsal H, m. 162-192), which stands on the energetic peak at the end of the piece. According to the principle of the Golden Section, I have constructed the piece with two large parts (m. 1-115 and m. 116-192).  The GS falls onto the beginning of the climax section of the piece, which is exciting and loud.  All subdivisions of the structures coincide with the numbers of proportions based on the GS principle.  The music has textures changed according to the proportional arrangement throughout the piece. First Part (m. 1-115, total 115 measures), including two sectionsSection I (m. 1-69, total 69 measures), including two divisionsFirst Division (m. 1-41, total 41 measures), including two subdivisions:Subdivision I (m. 1-25, total 25 measures)Rehearsal A, violin triplets + cello metalic sound in small intervals, followed by woodwinds.Subdivision II (m. 26-41, total 16 measures)Rehearsal B, cello triplets + violin metallic sound in small intervals, overlapped by woodwinds.Second Division (m. 42-69, total 28 measures)Rehearsal C, breathy key slaps on flute, in dark.Section II (m. 70-115, total 46 measures), including two divisionsFirst Division (m. 70-87, total 18 measures)Rehearsal D, soft cello reciting, followed by string harmonics & woodwind “echo†passages.Second Division (m. 88-115, total 28 measures)Rehearsal E, starts to buildup the excitement, with piano toccata in the beginning. When it reachesthe patterns on the top of the keyboard, the lowest passages on piano and cello punch in, andreview the pitch material with small intervals.Second Part (m.116-192, total 77 measures), including two sectionsSection I (m. 116-161, total 46 measures), including two divisionsFirst Division (m. 116-133, total 18 measures)Rehearsal F, the excitement reaches the climax, GS located. All instruments join in.Second Division (m. 134-161, total 28 measures)Rehearsal G, combination of E and F, continue to buildup.Section II (m. 162-192, total 31 measures)Rehearsal H, coda, keep the excitement on the peak.
SKU: CF.BAS81F
ISBN 9781491151631. UPC: 680160909131. 9 x 12 inches.
A lively and exhilarating new piece for beginning string groups, Effervescence lives up to its title but is so much more. It also contains lush harmonies, sweeping melodic gestures reminiscent of the America school of composers like Copland. It is a sophisticated musical presentation, but with limited technical demands, making it easy for young students, but very musically satisfying.Effervescence is commonly known as the act of a gas escaping a liquid and the “fizzing†result that occurs. A secondary definition, however, is a show of liveliness or exhilaration. It is this secondary definition that is the inspiration for this piece.The piece begins with a broad, sweeping introduction followed by a statement of the main theme in the first Violins at m. 11. The second Violins perform the melody at m. 19, while the first Violins perform a countermelody which morphs into the main idea of the B-section that follows at m. 27. The Celli and Bass restate the main theme at m. 35, while the upper strings provide a sweeping harmony with a somewhat “Americana†feel.  After a restatement of the B-section at m. 43, a subdued section with new material occurs at m. 51. This pushes into a final restatement of the main theme at m. 59 and leads to a vibrant conclusion, followed by a pianissimo afterthought.
About Carl Fischer Beginning String Orchestra Series
This series of Grade 1 pieces is designed for first year string groups. The pieces in this series are characterized by:
SKU: CF.BAS81
ISBN 9781491151266. UPC: 680160908769. 9 x 12 inches. Key: D major.
SKU: CF.CY4016F
ISBN 9781491149461. UPC: 680160906963. 9 x 12 inches.
Smit's Capriccio is his homage to the great Tchaikovsky. He points to a theme extracted from Sleeping Beauty that forms the basis for the second part, in a theme-and-variations approach. Capriccio was first performed at the Ojai Festival in 1958, with Smit's good friend Aaron Copland conducting. Manuscript facsimile.
SKU: CF.FAS73
ISBN 9780825888960. UPC: 798408088965. 8.5 x 11 inches. Key: G major.
Up-and-coming composer George Sweet is a string educator with years of experience working with developing students. He presents us with a lush and lyrical composition that seemingly flows off the page and into the hearts of students and audiences alike. Sweet's understanding of young students' technical limitations, along with his fresh compositional perspective, make him a unique new voice in the field. We know you are going to love this one!.In the Final Analysis takes its inspiration from various speeches given by both John and Robert Kennedy. The composer was moved by the Kennedys’ idea of a strong, diverse, and cooperative society. John Kennedy’s commencement speech at the American University in 1963 was especially inspirational and the piece takes its title from the following passage:For in the final analysis, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children’s futures. And we are all mortal.The introduction sets the tone of the piece and is reminiscent of the “Americana†feel of composers like Aaron Copland. The main theme enters in Violin 1 at m. 7.Throughout the piece, this material is presented in different situations and moods, reflective of the diverse society spoken of by the Kennedys. A lyrical “B†section appears at m. 23 and later at m. 48 in a slightly different orchestration. The introductory material returns at m. 63 and leads to a vibrant coda which brings the piece to a close.In the Final Analysis was commissioned by Victor Fernandez and the Booker Middle School Orchestra.
SKU: PR.14440722S
UPC: 680160669752. 9 x 12 inches.
Felder weds a string quartet with pre-recorded track for a contemplative, contemporary performance piece. Netivot was commissioned by New Music USA, made possible by annual program support and/or endowment gifts from Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust, Helen F. Whitaker Fund, Aaron Copland Fund for Music, and the New York State Council on the Arts. Felder: The overall title refers to spiritual pathways, connections among many identifiable nodal points, or regions, each one a continuity of experiencing, not an aim in itself. The first movement works with powers of concentration and fine attention; the second movement responds to an unfolding metaphoric, imagistic landscape as a consequent of the first movement and begins to develop rudimentary song from an intonation of specific scale points and formants--musical objects as things arise and disappear; and in the last movement, the linear becomes vertical in two chorales; The third movement's title refers to pillars of cloud and of fire. Each region has its own feel, but all of the individual phrases and materials are made of the same basic stuff. (Edge of the Center, June, 2016).
