Them Basses

SKU: BT.YE0036

Four movements, top part advanced. Several recordings and many broadcasts. Duration c.13'.

Programme Notes:

The Swiss composer Joseph Lauber was born at Ruswil near Lucerne in 1864. After studying with Heger in Zürich and Rheinberger in Munich, Lauber worked with Diémer and Massenet in Paris. With Massenet he learnt a great deal about orchestration, a subject that he subsequently taught until the end of his life at the Geneva conservatoire as well as piano and composition. He died in 1952.

Lauber's 193 catalogued works are many and varied. He wrote for all instruments and in every genre except oratorio and opera. Among his output areseveral works for double bass, most written for Prof. Hans Fryba, a personal friend with whom he worked as a double bass and piano recital duo. Fryba was one of the leading players in Europe in his day and was principal of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. First was Theme and Variations (1936-7) and a Rhapsodie with orchestra (1937). Three Walzes followed in 1939, a Gavotte and Gigue, a Sonata and then in 1943 Fantasie de Concert, written for the Geneva Competition. Four Caprices appeared in 1942, the same date as the Quartet for double basses which was dedicated to Fryba and written for the Berlin Philharmonic Double Bass Quartet, one of the first ever such ensembles to exist.

The Quartet for double basses was revived by Klaus Stoll in the 1970s for the Philharmonic Double Bass Quartet at that time to play. It was subsequently published in 1975 by Yorke Edition by kind permission of the composer's son Edmund Lauber.

Rodney Slatford 2004

SKU: AP.40454S

UPC: 038081459745. English. Traditional.

Cute, fun, and a true grade 1 bass feature! What more could you want? Encourage the bass players by showing them off. The bass parts are very simple, but the basses also play jingle bells in a surprise twist at the end of the piece. Brainstorm ideas to dress this piece up. Some suggestions are to put Santa hats on the bass players or the scroll of the basses. You could even put Christmas lights or stockings on the bass or stands. Bring the bass players up front. Have some bells on each bass stand where the audience can't see them. Then, when the time is right, the bassists pull out the bells and jingle away! Correlates to Sound Innovations Book 1, Level 3.

SKU: FL.FX071893

Instruments: Violins 1 (6 parts) Violins 2 (6 parts) Violas (4 parts) Cellos (3 parts) Double Basses (2 parts) Piano (optional) (1 part) Glockenspiel (optional) (1 part); Difficuly Level: Grade 2.

SKU: CL.026-4919-75

SKU: CA.5526109

ISBN 9790007310981. English.

Music for the ages: the coronation anthems Zadok the priest, Let thy hand be strengthened, The King shall rejoice and My heart is inditing, which Handel composed for the coronation of George II in 1727, are true masterpieces of the choral literature. My heart is inditing was probably played at the end of the coronation ceremony in London's Westminster Abbey. For the Carus edition, available either individually or as a set, musicologist, composer and flutist Alon Schab has returned to the original manuscripts, paying special attention to the specific circumstances that played a role in the creation of the anthems. Befitting such a festive occasion, Handel’s choir in 1727 was a large ensemble composed of singers from two institutions. This six- or seven-voice ensemble had to be carefully balanced to perform the passages for four or five voices. Handel’s autograph score shows how he adapted his composition, originally conceived for a four- or five-voice choir, to the particular circumstances of the premiere: The manuscript is peppered with surprising vocal doublings, insertions, and rests, intended to ensure that, for example, the few tenors were not overpowered by the more numerous altos and basses, the boy sopranos harmonized with the mature voices, and the chorus blended well with the instruments in the rich ambience of Westminster Abbey.This edition traces these ad hoc additions to reveal a score that is startlingly similar to Handel’s familiar and beautifully direct choral style. All editorial decisions are thoroughly documented in the critical report.

SKU: CA.5525911

ISBN 9790007311070. English.

Music for the ages: the coronation anthems Zadok the priest, Let thy hand be strengthened, The King shall rejoice and My heart is inditing, which Handel composed for the coronation of George II in 1727, are true masterpieces of the choral literature. Let thy hand be strengthened was probably performed at the beginning of the coronation ceremony in London's Westminster Abbey.For the Carus edition, available either individually or as a set, musicologist, composer and flutist Alon Schab has returned to the original manuscripts, paying special attention to the specific circumstances that played a role in the creation of the anthems. Befitting such a festive occasion, Handel’s choir in 1727 was a large ensemble composed of singers from two institutions. This six- or seven-voice ensemble had to be carefully balanced to perform the passages for four or five voices. Handel’s autograph score shows how he adapted his composition, originally conceived for a four- or five-voice choir, to the particular circumstances of the premiere: The manuscript is peppered with surprising vocal doublings, insertions, and rests, intended to ensure that, for example, the few tenors were not overpowered by the more numerous altos and basses, the boy sopranos harmonized with the mature voices, and the chorus blended well with the instruments in the rich ambience of Westminster Abbey.This edition traces these ad hoc additions to reveal a score that is startlingly similar to Handel’s familiar and beautifully direct choral style. All editorial decisions are thoroughly documented in the critical report.

SKU: CA.5525900

ISBN 9790007252014. English.

Music for the ages: the coronation anthems Zadok the priest, Let thy hand be strengthened, The King shall rejoice and My heart is inditing, which Handel composed for the coronation of George II in 1727, are true masterpieces of the choral literature. Let thy hand be strengthened was probably performed at the beginning of the coronation ceremony in London's Westminster Abbey.For the Carus edition, available either individually or as a set, musicologist, composer and flutist Alon Schab has returned to the original manuscripts, paying special attention to the specific circumstances that played a role in the creation of the anthems. Befitting such a festive occasion, Handel’s choir in 1727 was a large ensemble composed of singers from two institutions. This six- or seven-voice ensemble had to be carefully balanced to perform the passages for four or five voices. Handel’s autograph score shows how he adapted his composition, originally conceived for a four- or five-voice choir, to the particular circumstances of the premiere: The manuscript is peppered with surprising vocal doublings, insertions, and rests, intended to ensure that, for example, the few tenors were not overpowered by the more numerous altos and basses, the boy sopranos harmonized with the mature voices, and the chorus blended well with the instruments in the rich ambience of Westminster Abbey.This edition traces these ad hoc additions to reveal a score that is startlingly similar to Handel’s familiar and beautifully direct choral style. All editorial decisions are thoroughly documented in the critical report.

SKU: CA.5526119

ISBN 9790007311124. English.

Music for the ages: the coronation anthems Zadok the priest, Let thy hand be strengthened, The King shall rejoice and My heart is inditing, which Handel composed for the coronation of George II in 1727, are true masterpieces of the choral literature. My heart is inditing was probably played at the end of the coronation ceremony in London's Westminster Abbey. For the Carus edition, available either individually or as a set, musicologist, composer and flutist Alon Schab has returned to the original manuscripts, paying special attention to the specific circumstances that played a role in the creation of the anthems. Befitting such a festive occasion, Handel’s choir in 1727 was a large ensemble composed of singers from two institutions. This six- or seven-voice ensemble had to be carefully balanced to perform the passages for four or five voices. Handel’s autograph score shows how he adapted his composition, originally conceived for a four- or five-voice choir, to the particular circumstances of the premiere: The manuscript is peppered with surprising vocal doublings, insertions, and rests, intended to ensure that, for example, the few tenors were not overpowered by the more numerous altos and basses, the boy sopranos harmonized with the mature voices, and the chorus blended well with the instruments in the rich ambience of Westminster Abbey.This edition traces these ad hoc additions to reveal a score that is startlingly similar to Handel’s familiar and beautifully direct choral style. All editorial decisions are thoroughly documented in the critical report.