Waltz of the Flowers

SKU: BT.DHP-1063946-010

9x12 inches. English-German-French-Dutch.

The Hida High School is in a highland city called Takayama in Gifu Prefecture. Takayama City has some of the highest mountains in Japan, atmospheric rows of houses and streets, and a beautiful landscape. The magnificent views from these mountains can be described as a paradise above the clouds. When the composer visited there in the summer of 2001, the lovely flowers spreading through the valley and the refreshing air welcomed him. The flowers looked as if they were fashionably dressed and fully enjoying conversation and a short summer at a reunion party. The composer was inspired by this scenery to compose this piece. The musical party opens with happy greetings of a reunion andjoyful themes follow one after another. A light xylophone solo, a waltz and an adagio featuring alternate solos by alto saxophone, euphonium and trumpet lead to a brilliant finale featuring brass and percussion played in irregular time. A beautiful musical picture that your band will enjoy performing for many years.

Takayama is een hooggelegen stad in de Gifu-prefectuur (Japan). Het oostelijke stadsdeel Tatamidaira ligt tussen schitterende bergen die behoren tot de noordelijke Japanse Alpen. Toen de componist in de zomer deze plaats bezocht,werd hij ge nspireerd tot het schrijven van Alpine Flowers’ Party! Het muzikale festijn begint met opgewekte klanken, waarna meer vrolijke scènes elkaar opvolgen. Een xylofoonsolo, een wals en een adagio met wisselende solo’svoor altsaxofoon, euphonium en trompet leiden naar een briljante finale met veel maatwisselingen, waarin het koper en het slagwerk de leiding nemen op weg naar een spetterend slot.

Als Itaru Sakai im Sommer 2001 die reizvolle Region um den Berg Tatamidaira in Japan besuchte, wurde er von einem Meer von Blumen empfangen. Sie sahen aus, als würden sie in festlichem Aufzug eine unterhaltsame Party feiern und den kurzen Sommer genießen. Diese Szenerie inspirierte den Komponisten zu Alpine Flowers’ Party! Die musikalische Party beginnt mit einer herzlichen Begrüßung, dann folgt ein fröhlicher Programmpunkt dem anderen. Ein spritziges Xylophonsolo, ein Walzer und ein Adagio mit abwechselnden Soli für Altsaxophon, Euphonium und Trompete führen zu einem brillanten Finale, in dem Blechbläser und Schlagzeug im Vordergrund stehen. Feiern Sie mit!

Séjournant au coeur des Alpes japonaises, Itaru Sakai est surpris par le doux parfum et les couleurs des fleurs. Il se laisse inspirer par la beauté harmonieuse qui se révèle devant ses yeux. Débute alors le délicieux festival des fleurs alpines. La conversation est animée. Un solo de xylophone apporte une touche de légèreté, une valse fait virevolter le développement, puis vient un adagio qui égrène les solos et mène vers un finale brillant.

Soggiornando nel cuore della splendida catena montuosa delle Alpi giapponesi, Itaru Sakai è sorpreso del dolce profumo e dai colori dei fiori. Si lascia ispirare dalla bellezza armoniosa che si rivela ai suoi occhi. Ha inizio il delizioso festival dei fiori alpini. La conversazione è animata. Un assolo di xilofono apporta un tocco di leggerezza, un valzer fa piroettare lo sviluppo del tema, ed in seguito un adagio snoda i soli e accompagna il brano verso un finale brillante.

SKU: FP.FBS03

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 album of piano pieces, inspired by growing up in the Chiltern Hills. Suitable for players of around grade 4-5 standard, her evocative sound pieces describe a crash-landing hot air balloon, garden invading cows and a even a snake in a pond!

Air Balloon!: One vivid memory I have as a child is of the day that a hot air balloon passed over our house and made an emergency landing on the road in front! The sound of the gas being blown into the balloon to try to keep it high enough to pass the house sounded so loud and intimidating, and then there was the bustle of the neighbours as we all went out into the street to watch. It was both terrifying and exhilarating to watch the balloon float past and then land so near by.

Buzzards Circling: There is something so calming and restful about watching birds of prey circling in the thermal currents of a summer sky. Growing up in the Chilterns gave me plenty of opportunity to watch buzzards and red kites. This piano solo captures the beauty of their flight as they glide so effortlessly through the air.

There’s A Cow In The Garden Eating The Flowers: Inspired by the memory of seeing an unexpected cow in the garden! This surreal image is captured in a quirky waltz, as I portray both the absurdity of the moment and the sense of wonder I felt as a child, looking out of the window and seeing the cow walking round and eating the flowers. The final phrase articulates my longing: ‘I wish it would come again’.

Watching The World Go By: A short, reflective piece, remembering what it was like to have time to just sit and watch the world go by from my bedroom window.

Autumn Skies: A miniature about the beauty of Autumn skies and the poignant sense of loss for a summer gone. Friends I was fortunate to have several children of my own age living close by. We seemed to be forever making dens, playing out in the street and generally enjoying each other’s company. This piece reflects that sense of well-being.

Snake In The Pond: One hot summer I was astonished and scared to see a grass snake cooling off in our garden pond! I watched, both horrified and fascinated, as it rose up from the depths and then disappeared again. Here I portray the sense of the hazy summer afternoon as I peacefully watched the tiny movements of fish in the pond, contrasted with the fear and excitement of seeing the snake appear.

Morning Commute: I recollect many mornings stuck in traffic as my Dad took me to school on his way to work. There is one main road out of the village where I grew up, and that got more and more congested the closer we got to the town. We may not have chatted a lot, but it was always good to be together with my Dad, lost in our own thoughts.

The Witch’s Cottage: My siblings and I had a fascination with a small cottage nearby. It was set back from the road in a dark part of the woods and we called it 'the witch's cottage’. Every time we passed, I imagined I heard the distant cackle of the witch and wished I could catch a glimpse of her.

These pieces are written to complement my other collection, Night Time Impressions, which also draw on childhood recollections, particularly of the woods behind the house where I grew up. - Sarah Baker 2023.

SKU: HL.232

ISBN 9780931759109. UPC: 073999028355. 9x12 inches. Glenn Weiser.

A complete guide to playing fiddle tunes on the harmonica! Covers: tips on hand positions; playing instructions and techniques; rhythmic patterns for the reel, jig, hornpipe and waltz; and more. Features over 100 songs, along with a CD that demonstrates several of the tunes. Ability to read music is not necessary.