At the Dawn of Creation

SKU: FP.FBS02

ISBN 9790570500192.

Sarah Baker is Vocal Composer in Residence at Education Music Services, an ABRSM examiner and a well known composer of songs and musicals for primary schools and massed-choral events.

All this experience has come together in the creation of this first published album of piano pieces, inspired by the sounds heard at night from the woodland just beyond Sarah’s childhood home.

Suitable for players of around grade 4-5 standard, her evocative sound pieces begin at the tranquillity of dusk and end with the exuberant dawn chorus.

The composer writes:

'I grew up with woods behind my house, and the nocturnal noises and images that I remember were the inspiration for these eight short sound pictures on the theme of night. The music moves first from the tranquility of dusk and evening mists, to the emerging starlight of twilight. As night falls it takes on on a darker quality with shadows and dreams disturbing peace and calm.The night birds and bats swoop and flit past as they seek their prey, but gradually dawn approaches and peaceful sleep is restored. The morning is heralded in the joyful exuberance of the dawn chorus.'.

SKU: PR.31241902S

UPC: 680160690589. English.

Commissioned by the San Francisco Choral Society and the Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir, Terra Nostra is a 70-minute oratorio on the relationship between our planet and humankind, how this relationship has shifted over time, and how we can re-establish a harmonious balance. Part I: Creation of the World explores various creation myths from different cultures, culminating in a joyous celebration of the beauty of our planet. Part II: The Rise of Humanity examines human achievements, particularly since the dawn of our Industrial Age, and how these achievements have impacted the planet. Part III: Searching for Balance questions how to create more awareness for our planet’s plight, re-establish a deeper connection to it, and find a balance for living within our planet’s resources. In addition to the complete oratorio, stand-alone movements for mixed chorus, and for solo voice with piano, are also available separately.
Terra Nostra focuses on the relationship between our planet and mankind, how this relationship has shifted over time, and how we can re-establish a harmonious balance. The oratorio is divided into three parts:Part I: Creation of the World celebrates the birth and beauty of our planet. The oratorio begins with creation myths from India, North America, and Egypt that are integrated into the opening lines of Genesis from the Old Testament. The music surges forth from these creation stories into “God’s World” by Edna St. Vincent Millay, which describes the world in exuberant and vivid detail. Percy Bysshe Shelley’s “On thine own child” praises Mother Earth for her role bringing forth all life, while Walt Whitman sings a love song to the planet in “Smile O voluptuous cool-breathed earth!” Part I ends with “A Blade of Grass” in which Whitman muses how our planet has been spinning in the heavens for a very long time.Part II: The Rise of Humanity examines the achievements of mankind, particularly since the dawn of the Industrial Age. Lord Alfred Tennyson’s “Locksley Hall” sets an auspicious tone that mankind is on the verge of great discoveries. This is followed in short order by Charles Mackay’s “Railways 1846,” William Ernest Henley’s “A Song of Speed,” and John Gillespie Magee, Jr.’s “High Flight,” each of which celebrates a new milestone in technological achievement. In “Binsey Poplars,” Gerard Manley Hopkins takes note of the effect that these advances are having on the planet, with trees being brought down and landscapes forever changed. Percy Bysshe Shelley’s “A Dirge” concludes Part II with a warning that the planet is beginning to sound a grave alarm.Part III: Searching for Balance questions how we can create more awareness for our planet’s plight, re-establish a deeper connection to it, and find a balance for living within our planet’s resources. Three texts continue the earth’s plea that ended the previous section: Lord Byron’s “Darkness” speaks of a natural disaster (a volcano) that has blotted out the sun from humanity and the panic that ensues; contemporary poet Esther Iverem’s “Earth Screaming” gives voice to the modern issues of our changing climate; and William Wordsworth’s “The World Is Too Much With Us” warns us that we are almost out of time to change our course. Contemporary/agrarian poet Wendell Berry’s “The Want of Peace” speaks to us at the climax of the oratorio, reminding us that we can find harmony with the planet if we choose to live more simply, and to recall that we ourselves came from the earth. Two Walt Whitman texts (“A Child said, What is the grass?” and “There was a child went forth every day”) echo Berry’s thoughts, reminding us that we are of the earth, as is everything that we see on our planet. The oratorio concludes with a reprise of Whitman’s “A Blade of Grass” from Part I, this time interspersed with an additional Whitman text that sublimely states, “I bequeath myself to the dirt to grow from the grass I love…”My hope in writing this oratorio is to invite audience members to consider how we interact with our planet, and what we can each personally do to keep the planet going for future generations. We are the only stewards Earth has; what can we each do to leave her in better shape than we found her?

SKU: PR.31241902A

UPC: 680160690510. English.

Commissioned by the San Francisco Choral Society and the Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir, Terra Nostra is a 70-minute oratorio on the relationship between our planet and humankind, how this relationship has shifted over time, and how we can re-establish a harmonious balance. Part I: Creation of the World explores various creation myths from different cultures, culminating in a joyous celebration of the beauty of our planet. Part II: The Rise of Humanity examines human achievements, particularly since the dawn of our Industrial Age, and how these achievements have impacted the planet. Part III: Searching for Balance questions how to create more awareness for our planet’s plight, re-establish a deeper connection to it, and find a balance for living within our planet’s resources. In addition to the complete oratorio, stand-alone movements for mixed chorus, and for solo voice with piano, are also available separately.
Terra Nostra focuses on the relationship between our planet and mankind, how this relationship has shifted over time, and how we can re-establish a harmonious balance. The oratorio is divided into three parts:Part I: Creation of the World celebrates the birth and beauty of our planet. The oratorio begins with creation myths from India, North America, and Egypt that are integrated into the opening lines of Genesis from the Old Testament. The music surges forth from these creation stories into “God’s World” by Edna St. Vincent Millay, which describes the world in exuberant and vivid detail. Percy Bysshe Shelley’s “On thine own child” praises Mother Earth for her role bringing forth all life, while Walt Whitman sings a love song to the planet in “Smile O voluptuous cool-breathed earth!” Part I ends with “A Blade of Grass” in which Whitman muses how our planet has been spinning in the heavens for a very long time.Part II: The Rise of Humanity examines the achievements of mankind, particularly since the dawn of the Industrial Age. Lord Alfred Tennyson’s “Locksley Hall” sets an auspicious tone that mankind is on the verge of great discoveries. This is followed in short order by Charles Mackay’s “Railways 1846,” William Ernest Henley’s “A Song of Speed,” and John Gillespie Magee, Jr.’s “High Flight,” each of which celebrates a new milestone in technological achievement. In “Binsey Poplars,” Gerard Manley Hopkins takes note of the effect that these advances are having on the planet, with trees being brought down and landscapes forever changed. Percy Bysshe Shelley’s “A Dirge” concludes Part II with a warning that the planet is beginning to sound a grave alarm.Part III: Searching for Balance questions how we can create more awareness for our planet’s plight, re-establish a deeper connection to it, and find a balance for living within our planet’s resources. Three texts continue the earth’s plea that ended the previous section: Lord Byron’s “Darkness” speaks of a natural disaster (a volcano) that has blotted out the sun from humanity and the panic that ensues; contemporary poet Esther Iverem’s “Earth Screaming” gives voice to the modern issues of our changing climate; and William Wordsworth’s “The World Is Too Much With Us” warns us that we are almost out of time to change our course. Contemporary/agrarian poet Wendell Berry’s “The Want of Peace” speaks to us at the climax of the oratorio, reminding us that we can find harmony with the planet if we choose to live more simply, and to recall that we ourselves came from the earth. Two Walt Whitman texts (“A Child said, What is the grass?” and “There was a child went forth every day”) echo Berry’s thoughts, reminding us that we are of the earth, as is everything that we see on our planet. The oratorio concludes with a reprise of Whitman’s “A Blade of Grass” from Part I, this time interspersed with an additional Whitman text that sublimely states, “I bequeath myself to the dirt to grow from the grass I love…”My hope in writing this oratorio is to invite audience members to consider how we interact with our planet, and what we can each personally do to keep the planet going for future generations. We are the only stewards Earth has; what can we each do to leave her in better shape than we found her?

SKU: SP.TS572

ISBN 9781585607587.

The next book in this exciting series has arrived! The popularity of coloring books for the middle school aged to adult artist, while relatively recent, has become one of the faster growing recreational activities for artists of all skill levels. It took the innovation of the publisher you've known for many years, however, to marry the visual arts with music in this never seen before original concept and series, exclusively available from Santorella Publications. Experience the high quality you've come to expect from Santorella Publications in More Colors of Music, with over 60 musical instruments from around the world depicted with intricate background patterns. Each image is printed on heavy stock on only one side of the page to avoid bleed-through. Printed in the larger 9 x 12 size, with Santorella s lay-flat binding, the book is designed to last for years, while each page is perforated for easy removal and coloring. Every illustration, while a work of art on its own, will become a one-of-a-kind original piece with your personal touch; a work of art truly suitable for framing. The foreword from, More Colors of Music. The Colors of Music began the journey. Artist and musicians experienced a new level of meditative creativity with over 60 familiar musical instruments to color and make their own. More Colors of Music continues this journey with over 60 additional images dedicated to instruments from around the world. This collection of unusual instruments, both past and present offers an additional cultural context, reminding us how art and music not only enable us to share cultural similarities, but also explore our differences in a way which makes the world a little smaller. From the dawn of time, coloring has been one of the most basic forms of self-expression and is often the first creative process which many of us experience. Taking an existing image or pattern and making it our own is a uniquely personal experience. We decide which creative implements to use, perhaps crayons, pencils, or markers, and which colors to apply. As we color, we find we are in control of the entire process, limited only by our imagination, and when we are done, we have an artistic embodiment of our own personality, as unique and individual as each of us is to the other. It makes no difference if we are relatively skilled or unskilled; we express what is in our heart and mind each and every time we set pencil to paper. As we become more experienced and skilled, we acquire the power through technique and style to more freely express what is so clear in our imagination. In time, our creations become freely expressed works of art. Both art and music have creativity at their core. They allow the artist or musician, both young and old, to freely express feelings within while providing a sense of joy, tranquility, and meditative focus. The Colors of Music and More Colors of Music literally remind us that art and music are on the same page. This highly sought-after series, by Santorella Publications, will provide both the artist and musician with yet another creative channel for self-expression and individualism, as well as the opportunity for some much-needed downtown from the hard work of practicing and the rigors of everyday life. Experience the fun and satisfaction of The Colors of Music and More Colors of Music for yourself, and turn each page to discover the endless possibilities and opportunities for creativity and relaxation, as you nurture and cultivate your inner spirit, while feeding your soul with peace, tranquility, color, and harmony. The journey continues, so have some fun!

SKU: HL.138634

ISBN 9781574243093. UPC: 888680032326. 8.5x11.0x0.175 inches. Chet Falzerano, Foreword by Van Alexander.

Chick Webb's short professional career (he died at age 30) served as an inspiration to young drummers at the dawn of America's big band/swing era. Simply stated, Webb is the guy who inspired the guys, who inspired the guys, who inspired you. Gene Krupa: Chick taught me more than anyone. Buddy Rich: As a soloist, Chick had no equal at the time. Papa Jo Jones I don't speak of Chick Webb, the drummer, I speak of Chick Webb, the epitome. And Webb accomplished this as a black man crippled with a debilitating disease in a segregated society. His contributions as a drummer/bandleader changed the course of music in America, not the least of which was discovering Ella Fitzgerald. Author Chet Falzerano chronicles Webb's greatness in this celebration of the little giant including the recreation of Webb's drum set.

SKU: BP.2272A

Kyle Pederson's striking adaptation of Scripture passages foretells a future free from tears, hatred, and injustice, and provides a vision of a renewed and redeemed earth: A New Jerusalem arise, a new creation come alive, into the dawning after dark, arise! A combination of varied musical influences is skillfully woven together for choir, piano, and optional instruments including cello, organ, handbells, and drum, as well as optional congregational involvement (congregational handout included).