Celebrated Air on the G String

Four Christmas favorites combine to create a sparkling showcase for holiday programs. Perform with band alone or with chorus and strings for a fabulous concert finale! Includes: Deck the Hall Ding Dong! Merrily on High I SawThree Ships and We Wish You a Merry Christmas.

I Give You The End Of A Golden String was commissioned in 2013 by the Royal Philharmonic Society/Britten-Pears Foundation to celebrate the centenary of the birth of Benjamin Brittenand the bicentenary of thefoundation of the Royal Philharmonic Society.The piece was first performed on 8th June 2013 by the Britten Sinfonia conducted by Ryan Wigglesworth.'My aim when I began this piece was to create a long length ofstring music out of a single strand of melody.While experimenting at the beginning shaping and extending a melody in many possible directions I cameacross William Blake???s lines???I give you the end of a goldenstring;Only wind it into a ball It will lead you in at Heaven???s gate Built in Jerusalem???s wall???and this became my working method winding a single tune around itself so that it gradually formed itselfinto amuch richer more complex texture. The process happens three times producing the equivalent of acontinuous three-movement concerto.The ???first movement??? is engendered by two solo violas (the melody at the beginning alreadyentwined witha slightly alternative version of itself). The ???slow movement??? (a more extended more decorated developmentof the opening tune) is introduced by a solo cello (soon winding itself into a quartet of celli). The fast???finale??? led by two solo violins focuses on decorations within the melody rolling out ribbons of (Britten-like') thirds.' - Judith WeirSuggested minimum strings: 8.6.4.4.2 players

(Music for Christmas)-A superb opportunity to introduce early string players to the joys of playing celebrated melodies and pieces as an ensemble. Cecilia Weston has carefully arranged three Christmas tunes for an easy string ensemble with parts for 2 Violins Viola and Cello with optional Double Bass and Piano allowing for several players per part.

Arrangements by Osvaldo Golijov-During the first forty years of Kronos we have tried to expand the range of what an experience of String Quartet music might be. Kronos has been bringing elements from a wider expanse of the world of music into our concerts and recordings. Certain composers have been 'translating' carefully chosen pieces from various cultures allowing Kronos to reflect our evolving interests passions and concerns thereby enlarging the palette of sonic possibilities. Paramount among our 'translator'-arranger-composer has been Osvaldo Golijov. These six pieces originating from Argentina Cuba Hungary Mexico and Portugal here translated and arranged by Osvaldo Golijov havegiven Kronos new words in our vocabulary and new roles to assume within our group and they have taught us new ways of approaching music.- Kronos QuartetEach volume of the Kronos Collection contains scores and performance parts for works commissioned by the non-profit Kronos Performing Arts Association for the Kronos Quartet a group celebrated for its fearless exploration and commitment to expanding the repertoire of the String Quartet.This publication has been released in conjunction with the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Kronos Quartet.This volume contains score and parts.

The Eulenberg Edition of Brahms’ String Sextet No.1 In B Flat Op.18 in the original setting for 2 Violins 2 Violas and 2 Cellos. It is an eventful yet enduring work with shifting textures that follows the conventions of the classical as much as the Romantic with Brahms almost reluctantly capturing the beauty of Vienna. The use of String Sextet as an ensemble was new but Brahms magnificently entwines the instruments into a glorious whole. This Eulenberg Edition is a celebrated and highly authoritative miniature score serving as the definitive reference source for study performance preparation or simply for those with a love of the greatorchestral works.

from 'The Nutcracker'-This piece is one of the best known pieces of classical music in the world today and is probably the piece most identified with Tchaikovsky. It has been used extensively in many different contexts and has become on of the most popular concert items. A wonderful arrangement that provides string quartets with an opportunity to play this celebrated work.