SKU: BR.EB-8029
ISBN 9790004174326. 9 x 12 inches.
This series of easy piano music for teaching purposes presents pupils in the lower and lower middle grades with a carefully chosen selection of well-known and lesser-known compositions by important masters. The volumes are deliberately kept small in extent, since it is more stimulating for children to change the teaching material frequently. There are four existing harpsichord books with a total of 226 compositions by Francois Couperin le Grand (1668 -1733). His works are as unknown to pianists as they are famous among harpsichord players. The grace and imaginativeness of his works lend themselves especially well to the sound of the harpsichord, which is why the piano interpretation of works by Couperin, Rameau, Scarlatti and other composers of that time has been categorically rejected. But, after all, the works of Bach and Handel were written for the haipsichord and clavichord, and no one would dare question their intetpretation on the pianoforte. In order to introduce these lmpressionists of the Baroque Era to piano instruction, the editor has added to this series a folio of both Couperin's and Rameau's (EB 8033) music. The selection of the pieces is based on two criteria: 1. relatively modest demands made on technique, 2. various musical forms of expression. The Butterflies and the Windmills are both especially typical of masterful character pieces. The demands made on technique certainly correspond to a level of moderate difficulty. The simplifications made are restricted to the artistically realized twopart accompaniment (eg. p. 4 f. and p. 8 f.) with regard to finger stretch and to the profuse ornamentation of the original. The indications for phrasing and articulation are those of the editor. The first two pieces have been precisely elaborated on in this respect to serve as a model, whereas the remaining pieces contain only suggestions. As in other folios of this series; what is here to be stressed, is the importance of working out independently the phrasing and the dynamics. Directions for this are given by the respective footnotes; these directions, however, are not obligatory. lndications pertaining to dynamics and tempo have been omitted completely; the clearly recognizable character of the individual pieces should be direction enough. The tonal possibilities of the piano should in any case be used subtly. The very precise fingerings have been adapted to the suggested phrasings and to the corresponding realization of trills (according to the table). Heinz Walter, Salzburg, Spring 1980.
SKU: BR.EB-8033
ISBN 9790004174364. 9 x 12 inches.
This series of easy piano music for teaching purposes presents pupils in the lower and lower middle grades with a carefully chosen selection of well-known and lesser-known compositions by important masters. The volumes are deliberately kept small in extant, since it is more stimulating for children to change the teaching material frequently. Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683-1764) is the second great keyboard master of the Baroque Age next to Couperin. His works are as unknown to pianists, with few exceptions, as they are famous among harpsichord players. The virtuosity and imaginativeness of his works lend themselves especially well to the sound of harpsichord, which is why the piano interpretation of works by Couperin, Rameau, Scarlatti and other composers of that time has been categorically rejected. But, after all, the works of Bach and Handel were written for the harpsichord and clavichord, and no one would dare question their interpretation on the pianoforte. In order to introduce these Impressionists of the Baroque Era to piano instructions, the editor has added to this series a folio of both Couperin's (EB 8029) and Rameau's music. The selection of the pieces is based on two criteria: 1. relatively modest demands made on technique, 2. various musical forms of expression. Baroque dance forms and graceful character pieces (LaJoyeuse, L'Indifferente) are typical ofRameau's work. Simplifications to a small extent of the harpsichord setting and also of the omamentation in the original version were required, based on the teaching experience of the editor. The indications for phrasing and articulation are those of the editor. The Minuet on page 6 has been precisely elaborated on in this respect to serve as a model, whereas the remaining pieces contain only suggestions. As in other folios of this series: what is here to be stressed, is the importance of working out independently the phrasing and the dynamics. Directions for this are given by the espective footnotes; these directions, however, are not obligatory. Indications pertaining to dynamics and tempo have been omitted completely; the clearly recognizable character of the individual pieces should be direction enough. The tonal possibilities of the piano should in any case by used subtly. The very precise fingerings have been adapted to the suggested phrasings and to the corresponding realisation of trills (according to the table). Heinz Walter, Salzburg, Spring 1980.
SKU: HL.49046544
ISBN 9781705122655. UPC: 842819108726. 9.0x12.0x0.224 inches.
I composed the Piano Concerto in two stages: the first three movements during the years 1985-86, the next two in 1987, the final autograph of the last movement was ready by January, 1988. The concerto is dedicated to the American conductor Mario di Bonaventura. The markings of the movements are the following: 1. Vivace molto ritmico e preciso 2. Lento e deserto 3. Vivace cantabile 4. Allegro risoluto 5. Presto luminoso.The first performance of the three-movement Concerto was on October 23rd, 1986 in Graz. Mario di Bonaventura conducted while his brother, Anthony di Bonaventura, was the soloist. Two days later the performance was repeated in the Vienna Konzerthaus. After hearing the work twice, I came to the conclusion that the third movement is not an adequate finale; my feeling of form demanded continuation, a supplement. That led to the composing of the next two movements. The premiere of the whole cycle took place on February 29th, 1988, in the Vienna Konzerthaus with the same conductor and the same pianist. The orchestra consisted of the following: flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, tenor trombone, percussion and strings. The flautist also plays the piccoIo, the clarinetist, the alto ocarina. The percussion is made up of diverse instruments, which one musician-virtuoso can play. It is more practical, however, if two or three musicians share the instruments. Besides traditional instruments the percussion part calls also for two simple wind instruments: the swanee whistle and the harmonica. The string instrument parts (two violins, viola, cello and doubles bass) can be performed soloistic since they do not contain divisi. For balance, however, the ensemble playing is recommended, for example 6-8 first violins, 6-8 second, 4-6 violas, 4-6 cellos, 3-4 double basses. In the Piano Concerto I realized new concepts of harmony and rhythm. The first movement is entirely written in bimetry: simultaneously 12/8 and 4/4 (8/8). This relates to the known triplet on a doule relation and in itself is nothing new. Because, however, I articulate 12 triola and 8 duola pulses, an entangled, up till now unheard kind of polymetry is created. The rhythm is additionally complicated because of asymmetric groupings inside two speed layers, which means accents are asymmetrically distributed. These groups, as in the talea technique, have a fixed, continuously repeating rhythmic structures of varying lengths in speed layers of 12/8 and 4/4. This means that the repeating pattern in the 12/8 level and the pattern in the 4/4 level do not coincide and continuously give a kaleidoscope of renewing combinations. In our perception we quickly resign from following particular rhythmical successions and that what is going on in time appears for us as something static, resting. This music, if it is played properly, in the right tempo and with the right accents inside particular layers, after a certain time 'rises, as it were, as a plane after taking off: the rhythmic action, too complex to be able to follow in detail, begins flying. This diffusion of individual structures into a different global structure is one of my basic compositional concepts: from the end of the fifties, from the orchestral works Apparitions and Atmospheres I continuously have been looking for new ways of resolving this basic question. The harmony of the first movement is based on mixtures, hence on the parallel leading of voices. This technique is used here in a rather simple form; later in the fourth movement it will be considerably developed. The second movement (the only slow one amongst five movements) also has a talea type of structure, it is however much simpler rhythmically, because it contains only one speed layer. The melody is consisted in the development of a rigorous interval mode in which two minor seconds and one major second alternate therefore nine notes inside an octave. This mode is transposed into different degrees and it also determines the harmony of the movement; however, in closing episode in the piano part there is a combination of diatonics (white keys) and pentatonics (black keys) led in brilliant, sparkling quasimixtures, while the orchestra continues to play in the nine tone mode. In this movement I used isolated sounds and extreme registers (piccolo in a very low register, bassoon in a very high register, canons played by the swanee whistle, the alto ocarina and brass with a harmon-mute' damper, cutting sound combinations of the piccolo, clarinet and oboe in an extremely high register, also alternating of a whistle-siren and xylophone). The third movement also has one speed layer and because of this it appears as simpler than the first, but actually the rhythm is very complicated in a different way here. Above the uninterrupted, fast and regular basic pulse, thanks to the asymmetric distribution of accents, different types of hemiolas and inherent melodical patterns appear (the term was coined by Gerhard Kubik in relation to central African music). If this movement is played with the adequate speed and with very clear accentuation, illusory rhythmic-melodical figures appear. These figures are not played directly; they do not appear in the score, but exist only in our perception as a result of co-operation of different voices. Already earlier I had experimented with illusory rhythmics, namely in Poeme symphonique for 100 metronomes (1962), in Continuum for harpsichord (1968), in Monument for two pianos (1976), and especially in the first and sixth piano etude Desordre and Automne a Varsovie (1985). The third movement of the Piano Concerto is up to now the clearest example of illusory rhythmics and illusory melody. In intervallic and chordal structure this movement is based on alternation, and also inter-relation of various modal and quasi-equidistant harmony spaces. The tempered twelve-part division of the octave allows for diatonical and other modal interval successions, which are not equidistant, but are based on the alternation of major and minor seconds in different groups. The tempered system also allows for the use of the anhemitonic pentatonic scale (the black keys of the piano). From equidistant scales, therefore interval formations which are based on the division of an octave in equal distances, the twelve-tone tempered system allows only chromatics (only minor seconds) and the six-tone scale (the whole-tone: only major seconds). Moreover, the division of the octave into four parts only minor thirds) and three parts (three major thirds) is possible. In several music cultures different equidistant divisions of an octave are accepted, for example, in the Javanese slendro into five parts, in Melanesia into seven parts, popular also in southeastern Asia, and apart from this, in southern Africa. This does not mean an exact equidistance: there is a certain tolerance for the inaccurateness of the interval tuning. These exotic for us, Europeans, harmony and melody have attracted me for several years. However I did not want to re-tune the piano (microtone deviations appear in the concerto only in a few places in the horn and trombone parts led in natural tones). After the period of experimenting, I got to pseudo- or quasiequidistant intervals, which is neither whole-tone nor chromatic: in the twelve-tone system, two whole-tone scales are possible, shifted a minor second apart from each other. Therefore, I connect these two scales (or sound resources), and for example, places occur where the melodies and figurations in the piano part are created from both whole tone scales; in one band one six-tone sound resource is utilized, and in the other hand, the complementary. In this way whole-tonality and chromaticism mutually reduce themselves: a type of deformed equidistancism is formed, strangely brilliant and at the same time slanting; illusory harmony, indeed being created inside the tempered twelve-tone system, but in sound quality not belonging to it anymore. The appearance of such slantedequidistant harmony fields alternating with modal fields and based on chords built on fifths (mainly in the piano part), complemented with mixtures built on fifths in the orchestra, gives this movement an individual, soft-metallic colour (a metallic sound resulting from harmonics). The fourth movement was meant to be the central movement of the Concerto. Its melodc-rhythmic elements (embryos or fragments of motives) in themselves are simple. The movement also begins simply, with a succession of overlapping of these elements in the mixture type structures. Also here a kaleidoscope is created, due to a limited number of these elements - of these pebbles in the kaleidoscope - which continuously return in augmentations and diminutions. Step by step, however, so that in the beginning we cannot hear it, a compiled rhythmic organization of the talea type gradually comes into daylight, based on the simultaneity of two mutually shifted to each other speed layers (also triplet and duoles, however, with different asymmetric structures than in the first movement). While longer rests are gradually filled in with motive fragments, we slowly come to the conclusion that we have found ourselves inside a rhythmic-melodical whirl: without change in tempo, only through increasing the density of the musical events, a rotation is created in the stream of successive and compiled, augmented and diminished motive fragments, and increasing the density suggests acceleration. Thanks to the periodical structure of the composition, always new but however of the same (all the motivic cells are similar to earlier ones but none of them are exactly repeated; the general structure is therefore self-similar), an impression is created of a gigantic, indissoluble network. Also, rhythmic structures at first hidden gradually begin to emerge, two independent speed layers with their various internal accentuations. This great, self-similar whirl in a very indirect way relates to musical associations, which came to my mind while watching the graphic projection of the mathematical sets of Julia and of Mandelbrot made with the help of a computer. I saw these wonderful pictures of fractal creations, made by scientists from Brema, Peitgen and Richter, for the first time in 1984. From that time they have played a great role in my musical concepts. This does not mean, however, that composing the fourth movement I used mathematical methods or iterative calculus; indeed, I did use constructions which, however, are not based on mathematical thinking, but are rather craftman's constructions (in this respect, my attitude towards mathematics is similar to that of the graphic artist Maurits Escher). I am concerned rather with intuitional, poetic, synesthetic correspondence, not on the scientific, but on the poetic level of thinking. The fifth, very short Presto movement is harmonically very simple, but all the more complicated in its rhythmic structure: it is based on the further development of ''inherent patterns of the third movement. The quasi-equidistance system dominates harmonically and melodically in this movement, as in the third, alternating with harmonic fields, which are based on the division of the chromatic whole into diatonics and anhemitonic pentatonics. Polyrhythms and harmonic mixtures reach their greatest density, and at the same time this movement is strikingly light, enlightened with very bright colours: at first it seems chaotic, but after listening to it for a few times it is easy to grasp its content: many autonomous but self-similar figures which crossing themselves. I present my artistic credo in the Piano Concerto: I demonstrate my independence from criteria of the traditional avantgarde, as well as the fashionable postmodernism. Musical illusions which I consider to be also so important are not a goal in itself for me, but a foundation for my aesthetical attitude. I prefer musical forms which have a more object-like than processual character. Music as frozen time, as an object in imaginary space evoked by music in our imagination, as a creation which really develops in time, but in imagination it exists simultaneously in all its moments. The spell of time, the enduring its passing by, closing it in a moment of the present is my main intention as a composer. (Gyorgy Ligeti).
SKU: HL.44005498
ISBN 9789043122214. UPC: 073999370744. 9.0x12.0x0.221 inches. English-German-French-Dutch.
This book contains a selection of famous classical pieces that have been carefully adapted for the marimba. Composers such as Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Vivaldi, Rimsky Korsakov and Clementi are all included. The book enables marimba players with reasonable playing experience to perform these splendid masterpieces. The pieces are ordered by difficulty and, with the exception of a few pieces at the end of the book which require four mallets, are all playable with two mallets. Musical style and good technique are essential for a good performance. In addition to making wonderful concert pieces the exciting arrangements in this book will also make a most useful teaching tool.Dit boek bevat een aantal meesterwerken uit de klassieke muziek die zorgvuldig zijn bewerkt voor marimba. Componisten als Bach, Mozart, Beethoven maar ook Vivaldi, Rimsky-Korsakov en Clementi komen aan bod. Enigszins geoefende marimbaspelerszullen prima met deze juweeltjes uit de voeten kunnen. Daarbij zijn stijl en een goede uitvoering belangrijk. De meeste werken zijn speelbaar met twee mallets, maar achter in het boek zijn ook enkele stukken bewerkt voorvier mallets. De werken zijn gerangschikt naar moeilijkheidsgraad. Een must voor de ambitieuze muzikant en een ideaal hulpmiddel voor de les- en uitvoeringspraktijk.Masters on Marimba enthalt eine Auswahl an beruhmten klassischen Stucken, die sorgfaltig fur das Marimbaphon bearbeitet wurden. Komponisten wie Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Vivaldi, Rimski-Korsakow und Clementi sind hier vertreten. Mit diesem Buch bekommen Spieler mit etwas Erfahrung die Gelegenheit, diese Meisterwerke zu spielen. Die Stucke sind nach Schwierigkeitsgrad geordnet und konnen - bis auf einige Stucke am Ende des Buches, die vier Schlagel erfordern - mit zwei Schlageln gespielt werden. Stilistisch und technisch gutes Spiel ist entscheidend fur einen guten Vortrag.Masters on Marimba une selection de celebres œuvres classiques de compositeurs tels que Marais, Senaille, Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Vivaldi, Rimski-Korsakov et Clementi. La plupart des compositions se jouent avec deux baguettes, a l'exception de quelques oeuvres qui ont ete arrangees pour quatre baguettes. Masters on Marimba e una selezione di celebri opere classiche di compositori quali Marais, Senaille, Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Vivaldi, Rimski-Korsakov e Clementi. La maggior parte delle composizioni e da suonare con due bacchette, ad eccezione di brani arrangiati per quattro bacchette. Con Masters of Marimba affronterete uno specifico repertorio che vi permettera di affinare la vostra musicalita, il vostro tocco e la precisione ritmica. Potrete poi esibirvi in pubblico dimostrando come anche la marimba possa suonare da solista al pari di altri strumenti, per intensita di suono e morbidezza d'espressione.
SKU: PR.114422450
ISBN 9781491134986. UPC: 680160685974. 9 x 12 inches.
Bachâs colossal Partita No. 2 for Solo Violin has been crowned by many masters as one of musicâs greatest achievements, and even its famous Chaconne movement alone is a mountain many performers dare not scale. While the literature of several other instruments has been enriched by transcriptions of the Chaconne, Mazzantiâs heroic adaptation of the complete Partita is the culmination of many yearsâ work, and the only transcription specifically for the piccoloâs unique range.THE INSPIRATIONEver since my childhood, Johann Sebastian Bachâs solo violin music (like his works for solo cello) has always held a charm and mystery for me. Thereâs something about this repertoire that sparks an inextinguishable questioning in my musical and human soul.It is music without spatial limits or temporal cages, a music as essential as it is masterfully complex, in which the solitary voice of man meets the all-encompassing voice of God. It is a music whose vertical and horizontal dimensions, already admirably fused, are faceted into new and mysterious realities. For every violinist, the study of these compositions is at the apex of tenacious technical study and interpretative effort.Violinist Joshua Bell has said the Ciaccona (Bach did write the Partitaâs movement titles in Italian) is ânot just one of the greatest pieces of music ever written, but one of the greatest achievements of any man in history. Itâs a spiritually powerful piece, emotionally powerful, structurally perfect.âTranscribing and performing Bachâs PARTITA NO. 2, BWV 1004 on piccolo was a feat that took years of work. The famous Ciaccona movement is, of course, the piece that alone occupied most of this time. How does one honor and elevate such high music with such a âsmallâ instrument, devoid of the enormous expressive potential of the violin, devoid of its chords and its polyphony? How might I transform the piccolo into an instrument with, like the violin, full-bodied low notes and subtle high notes? Above all, why undertake such a demanding and extraordinary journey?The first reason is obvious: by transcribing, studying, and performing such an admirable piece, we assimilate it, it becomes part of us, it enormously enriches our musical interior.In addition, it forces us technically to expand the colors, agility, and flexibility of the instrument; it makes us think in a polyphonic way.Finally, the daily study, especially of the Ciaccona, is an extraordinary gymnasium in which to consolidate and strengthen our general technique.THE TRANSCRIPTIONThe whole Partita was transcribed in the key of A minor, a fifth above the original in D minor. This was necessary for the lowest note of the violin (G) to correspond to the lowest note of the piccolo (D). This version exploits the full range of the piccolo, from the D of the first octave to the B of the third octave. However some octave adjustments were needed.The chords, particularly in the Sarabanda and the Ciaccona, have been left with the same notational system used by Bach in his version for violin. I chose to respect Bachâs presentation and did not transcribe these into grace notes breaking the chords. I advocate that we must at least try to think of this music in its vertical dimension, trying to make the notes resonate as if they were being played together, deciding the speed of the arpeggio based on musical needs.While some woodwind editions of Bachâs string solos do indicate broken chords as grace notes, this implies that the most important note is necessarily the highest one, while sometimes it is precisely in the lower pitches that the theme is voiced.In this piccolo adaptation, many of Bachâs original articulations have been respected. Some have been changed, when needing to adapt them to the specific needs of flute playing.The two passages in the Ciaccona where Bach indicates âarpeggioâ were rendered trying to respect the most consolidated and virtuous violin traditions, and at the same time the possibilities that the piccolo offers us. For this purpose, in some cases, different revoicings of the chords have been used.I thank all those who patiently listened to me and were close to me during this period, for their observations and advice. In particular, I thank my daughter Sara for her assistance and skill in entering this edition into music writing software.
SKU: BA.BA11854
ISBN 9790006576067. 31 x 24.3 cm inches.
One of Saint-Saëns' mature works, the Six Ã?tudes pour piano op. 52, appeared in 1877 around the same time as his opera Samson et Dalila. The second etude of the cycle was originally written in 1868 for the â??Ã?cole du pianisteâ?, the French edition of the piano method by Lebert and Stark. With his collection, the composer who had embarked on a compilation of piano etudes for the first time, evidently wanted to deliberately? distinguish the cycle from the character of the brilliant concert etude: Each of the etudes is devoted to one or more specific difficulties or compositional techniques, as in the fugues. He assigned the individual pieces to famous virtuosos of his time, such as Anton or Nikolai Rubinstein or Marie Jaëll.The new Urtext editions are based on the ground-breaking musical text of the Å?uvres instrumentales complètes by Camille Saint-Saëns, for which the editor has meticulously evaluated all known sources. A detailed Foreword provides information on the genesis and significance of the etudes. Readings and variants are precisely documented in the Critical Commentary (Eng). Notes on interpretation (Fr/Eng/Ger) as well as an elegant music engraving provide the pianist with optimal conditions for studying these virtuosic etudes.
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