Birthday Gifts

9 Musical Portraits for Piano-To coin a phrase: this book contains 'something for everyone'. Each of these nine 'musical gifts' portrays a different personality from the itinerate gossiper to the 'dreamy type' the belligerent 'war monger' all the way through to the 'joker' at the end. If you are giving this book as a birthday present perhaps the beneficiary should be asked to suggest which of the personalities they feel best suits their countenance and then compare notes with the giver!These pieces were published on the occasion of Spartan's 25th birthday.

Par L'ESTRANGE ALEXANDER (Arr.). Simple Gifts has been sung to numerous different lyrics (particularly Sydney Carter’s 1960s hymn Lord of the dance) and the tune is very well known, thanks to its use in Aaron Copland’s score for the ballet Appalachian Spring, first performed in 1944. Elder Joseph Brackett – a shaker from Maine – originally wrote it as a ‘dancing song’ in 1848. This arrangement by Alexander L’Estrange is appropriately simple and beautifully effective. This piece is part of the Faber Choral Singles series, offering a selection of beautifully crafted arrangements in a diversity of musical styles. From Broadway, pop and folk to spirituals, gospel and original works, the series is arranged for 3-part choir (soprano, alto and a combined male-voice part) providing flexibility for any choir. Complete with straight-forward piano accompaniments supporting the vocal lines, the Faber Choral Singles series guarantees the perfect repertoire for every occasion – so get exploring and get singing! / Choral Music / Répertoire / Voix Mixtes SAB et Piano

A series of short pieces dedicated to renowned cellist Anssi Karttunen presented during a concert in celebration of his fiftieth birthday in Helsinki in 2010. The concert was based around the Mystery Variations a series of musical 'gifts' composed by a variety of major composers of today to be played by Anssi himself and all based on Colombi's Ciaconna.

Par ARNOLD MALCOLM. Written to celebrate the sixtieth birthday of the legendary oboist Leon Goossens, and first performed by him and the Carter Trio in 1958, this delightful 13-minute quartet is a fine showcase of Malcolm Arnold?s melodic gifts.  The work unfolds over three elegant movements, always engaging and directly communicative. / Ensemble Music / Répertoire / Hautbois, Violon, Alto et Violoncelle

Britten's Jubilate is written for SATB choir and Organ accompaniment.Benjamin Britten's birthday (22nd November 1913 Lowestoft) falls on St. Cecilia's Day a happy augury for the career of one of Britain's greatestcomposers. Essentially a vocal composer Britten won international fame for his operas and song-cycles. He never abandoned the principles of tonality and was a 'modern' composer who reached a mass audience and a conservative whoseoriginality no radical would sensibly deny. He shared with his predecessors Parry Vaughan Williams and Holst an intense interest in works for amateurs and children. His brilliant gifts as a pianist and conductor coupled withhis virtuosic inventiveness also led him to compose music for great performers such as the cellist Mstislav Rostropovich and the singers Galina Vishnevskaya Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and Janet Baker.The greatestpersonal influence on his music was the Tenor Peter Pears for whom he composed many operatic and vocal roles. In 1948 Britten Pears and Eric Crozier founded the Aldeburgh Festival now one of the most respected established fornew English music. In 1952 he was made a Companion of Honour in 1965 received the Order of Merit and in 1976 the year of his death he became the first composer to receive a life peerage.Oxford University Press wasBritten's first publisher. In the early 1930s A Boy Was Born and the Simple Symphony brought him great critical acclaim and launched his compositional career. Oxford is delighted to present some previouslyunpublished pieces in collaboration with the Britten Estate. These include the Double Concerto for Violin and Viola premiered at Snape by the Britten-Pears Orchestra under Kent Nagano in June 1997; Two Portraits forString Orchestra premiered on BBC Radio 3 in December 1995 by the Northern Sinfonia under Martyn Brabbins; The World Of The Spirit the full version first performed in 1938 on the BBC Home Service the abridged

Choral Medley-Celebrate the music of Stephen Schwartz from Broadway's wunderkind to a bona fide musical legend! This 23-minute medley will take you and your audience into his creative world with spectacular award-winning songs from such showsas Godspell Wicked Children of Eden Pocahontas The Prince of Egypt The Hunchback of Notre Dame Working and more including All Good Gifts Colors of the Wind Day by Day Defying Gravity For Good God Help theOutcasts It's an Art Just Around the Riverbend Meadowlark Popular The Spark of Creation Topsy Turvy We Beseech Thee When You Believe. Available separately: SATB SAB 2-Part ShowTrax CD. Combo parts available as adigital download (fl cl tpt 1-2 tsx tbn vc syn gtr b dm). Total duration: ca. 23:30.

Choral Medley-Celebrate the music of Stephen Schwartz from Broadway's wunderkind to a bona fide musical legend!This 23-minute medley will take you and your audience into his creative world with spectacular award-winning songs from such shows as Godspell Wicked Children of Eden Pocahontas The Prince of Egypt The Hunchback of Notre Dame Working and more including All Good Gifts Colors of the Wind Day by Day Defying Gravity For Good God Help the Outcasts It's an Art Just Around the Riverbend Meadowlark Popular The Spark of Creation Topsy Turvy We Beseech Thee When You Believe.