Pleasant Hill

SKU: BT.DHP-1002134-215

Pleasant Hill takes its inspiration from pleasant relaxing moments snatched on top of a sunny hill. It takes the form of a traditional march with the composer leading us over the hill with a bass solo and a melodious trio. The march comes to a close leaving everybody reeling with a fascinating sense of majesty.

In der kurzen aber bezaubernden Einleitung diese Straßenmarsches ist der Charakter des Stückes bereits vollständig getroffen. Die Eingebung dazu entstand aus dem Gedanken an einen wohltuend entspannten Aufenthalt auf einem sonnigen Hügel. Harm Evers verwendete eine traditionelle Marschform, um uns über den Hügel zu führen, in der ein wohlklingendes Basssolo und ein melodisches Trio natürlich nicht fehlen durften. Der Faszination durch den feierlichen Schluss wird sich kaum jemand entziehen können.

SKU: CL.RWS-2217-00

Over The Hills is the perfect introductory march for beginners. Utilizing limited ranges and rhythmic content, this piece depicts a pleasant walk of a group of children in the countryside. The march character reflects the spirit and hopeful nature of childhood exploration, much like the young players on stage joyfully playing this piece at their first concert.

SKU: PR.165000970

ISBN 9781491100462. UPC: 680160626717. 9x12 inches.

Commissioned by a consortium of 20 high school and university bands coordinated by Scott Hanna of the University of Texas at Austin, Downshifting is inspired by Welcher’s joy of bicycle riding. Welcher explains in the program note: When I decided to write a piece for band that was basically entertaining and uplifting, it made perfect sense to call it Downshifting... With three gears on the front sprocket and seven on the rear, it’s possible to keep one’s legs going at a constant speed (for me, q = 126) while the bike itself may be moving very slowly or very quickly. I determined to capitalize on this in writing Downshifting, which keeps the same mathematical inner pulse, ‘shifting’ (with a ratchet) as the terrain changes..
One of the joys of life for me is riding my 21-speed bicycle.  As a basically non-athletic person who nonetheless likes to stay in shape, I have found that riding my bike provides just the exercise I need.  The workout is strenuous, but pleasant—and the infinite variety of scenery I pass keeps me alert and wide awake.  When I decided to write a piece for band that was basically entertaining and uplifting, it made perfect sense to call it Downshifting.With three gears on the front sprocket and seven on the rear, it’s possible to keep ones legs going at a constant speed (for me, that’s 126 to the quarter note) while the bike itself may be moving very slowly or very quickly.  I determined to capitalize on this in writing the music, which manages to keep the same mathematical inner pulse, “shifting” (with a ratchet) as the terrain changes.  So Downshifting begins with that steady pulse, on a grid of eighth notes in 2/4 to propel the little vehicle forward.  There’s a joyous little tune in our heads as we begin our ride.  As the initial thrill of riding on the flat gives way to monotony, we stay in that pulse for the first minute or so of the ride.  Then, as the first hill becomes visible, we shift the bike down: even though the eighths are equal, the pulse feels slower (and we’re now in 6/8 time).  Ultimately the compound meter shifts again as the climb begins, and we’re now plodding doggedly up the hill.  (The music reflects all of these changes, with subtitles such as “Working harder—Seeing the climb, ahead”, “Steady and committed…the climb begins!”, “Straining against the grade”, etc.).There are two hills, and two long climbs (but in different keys, reflecting the change in scenery).  When at last the summit of the second hill is reached (“Flying, Over the Top”), we coast at last down the other side at breakneck speed.  The initial joyous melody returns, but now in a spread-out coasting pulse.  At the end of the ride, we slow to a stop—then take one last sprint (shifting five times in the process) in order to end on a biker’s high.Downshifting was commissioned by a consortium of fourteen high school and college bands, overseen by my longtime colleague at the University of Texas, Scott Hanna.  The piece is dedicated to him (and to all bicycle enthusiasts).

SKU: AP.6-257487

ISBN 9780486257488. English. Robert Schumann.

A lesser-known fact about the genius composer, Robert Schumann, is that he was also a gifted music critic. This is a collection of 61 of Schumann's most important critical pieces that he wrote for the Neue Zeitschrift für Musik, the influential music journal that he founded in 1834.t, and Cherubini plus revealing essays on minor masters such as Spohr, Hiller, Field, Moscheles, Hummel, and Gade. (translated & edited by Henry Pleasants).