Two Trumpet Tunes from King Arthur (1691)

SKU: BT.AMP-091-400

ISBN 9789043153362. English-German-French-Dutch.

In Classic Hymns, Philip Sparke has taken 10 of the best-loved hymn tunes, popular around the world, and used them as the basis of a collection of short recital pieces, ranging from simple descant arrangements to a full-blown theme and variations. Ideal for concert or contest use, these charming pieces range in mood from triumphal to reflective and can provide that ‘musical moment’ and a time for meditation in church services and religious occasions of all kinds.

Anglo Music PressBij de keuze van de hymnen voor deze verzameling heeft Philip Sparke grotendeels geput uit de grote Engelse hymnen van de 18e en 19e eeuw - melodieën die niet alleen geschikt zijn voor samenzang, maar ook veel muzikalemogelijkheden bieden voor uitbreiding en variatie. De bijgevoegde cd bevat zowel volledige uitvoeringen als begeleidingstracks. Deze hymnen zijn uitstekend geschikt voor het spelen in concert- of wedstrijdverband, of als muzikaalintermezzo tijdens een kerkdienst.

Bei der Auswahl der Hymnen für diese Sammlung bediente sich Philip Sparke größtenteils der großen, englischen Hymnen aus dem 18. und 19. Jahrhundert. Die beiliegende CD enthält sowohl vollständige Aufnahmen als auch reine Begleitversionen. Diese Hymnen eigenen sich perfekt für den Einsatz im Gottesdienst, Konzert und Wettbewerb, aber auch für das Spiel zum eigenen Vergnügen.

SKU: PR.16500100F

ISBN 9781491114421. UPC: 680160669783. 9 x 12 inches.

Commissioned for a consortium of high school and college bands in the north Dallas region, FOR THEMYSTIC HARMONY is a 10-minute inspirational work in homage to Norwood and Elizabeth Dixon,patrons of the Fort Worth Symphony and the Van Cliburn Competition. Welcher draws melodic flavorfrom five American hymns, spirituals, and folk tunes of the 19th century. The last of these sources toappear is the hymn tune For the Beauty of the Earth, whose third stanza is the quatrain: “For the joy of earand eye, For the heart and mind’s delight, For the mystic harmony, Linking sense to sound and sight,”giving rise to the work’s title.
This work, commissioned for a consortium of high school bands in the north Dallas area, is my fifteenth maturework for wind ensemble (not counting transcriptions). When I asked Todd Dixon, the band director whospearheaded this project, what kind of a work he most wanted, he first said “something that’s basically slow,” butwanted to leave the details to me. During a long subsequent conversation, he mentioned that his grandparents,Norwood and Elizabeth Dixon, were prime supporters of the Fort Worth Symphony, going so far as to purchase anumber of high quality instruments for that orchestra. This intrigued me, so I asked more about his grandparentsand was provided an 80-page biographical sketch. Reading that article, including a long section about theirdevotion to supporting a young man through the rigors of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition fora number of years, moved me very much. Norwood and Elizabeth Dixon weren’t just supporters of the arts; theywere passionate lovers of music and musicians. I determined to make this work a testament to that love, and tothe religious faith that sustained them both. The idea of using extant hymns was also suggested by Todd Dixon,and this 10-minute work is the result.I have employed existing melodies in several works, delving into certain kinds of religious music more than a fewtimes. In seeking new sounds, new ways of harmonizing old tunes, and the contrapuntal overlaying of one tunewith another, I was able to make works like ZION (using 19th-century Revivalist hymns) and LABORING SONGS(using Shaker melodies) reflect the spirit of the composers who created these melodies, without sounding likepastiches or medleys. I determined to do the same with this new work, with the added problem of employingmelodies that were more familiar. I chose five tunes from the 19th century: hymns, spirituals, and folk-tunes.Some of these are known by differing titles, but they all appear in hymnals of various Christian denominations(with various titles and texts). My idea was to employ the tunes without altering their notes, instead using aconstantly modulating sense of harmony — sometimes leading to polytonal harmonizations of what are normallysimple four-chord hymns.The work begins and ends with a repeated chime on the note C: a reminder of steeples, white clapboard churchesin the country, and small church organs. Beginning with a Mixolydian folk tune of Caribbean origin presentedtwice with layered entrances, the work starts with a feeling of mystery and gentle sorrow. It proceeds, after along transition, into a second hymn that is sometimes connected to the sea (hence the sensation of water andwaves throughout it). This tune, by John B. Dykes (1823-1876), is a bit more chromatic and “shifty” than mosthymn-tunes, so I chose to play with the constant sensation of modulation even more than the original does. Atthe climax, the familiar spiritual “Were you there?” takes over, with a double-time polytonal feeling propelling itforward at “Sometimes it causes me to tremble.”Trumpets in counterpoint raise the temperature, and the tempo as well, leading the music into a third tune (ofunknown provenance, though it appears with different texts in various hymnals) that is presented in a sprightlymanner. Bassoons introduce the melody, but it is quickly taken up by other instruments over three “verses,”constantly growing in orchestration and volume. A mysterious second tune, unrelated to this one, interrupts it inall three verses, sending the melody into unknown regions.The final melody is “For the Beauty of the Earth.” This tune by Conrad Kocher (1786-1872) is commonly sung atThanksgiving — the perfect choice to end this work celebrating two people known for their generosity.Keeping the sense of constant modulation that has been present throughout, I chose to present this hymn in threegrowing verses, but with a twist: every four bars, the “key” of the hymn seems to shift — until the “Lord of all, toThee we praise” melody bursts out in a surprising compound meter. This, as it turns out, was the “mystery tune”heard earlier in the piece. After an Ivesian, almost polytonal climax, the Coda begins over a long B( pedal. At first,it seems to be a restatement of the first two phrases of “For the Beauty” with long spaces between them, but it soonchanges to a series of “Amen” cadences, widely separated by range and color. These, too, do not conform to anykey, but instead overlay each other in ways that are unpredictable but strangely comforting.The third verse of “For the Beauty of the Earth” contains this quatrain:“For the joy of ear and eye, –For the heart and mind’s delightFor the mystic harmonyLinking sense to sound and sight”and it was from this poetry that I drew the title for the present work. It is my hope that audiences and performerswill find within it a sense of grace: more than a little familiar, but also quite new and unexpected.

SKU: MB.30932M

ISBN 9781513466255. 8.75x11.75 inches.

First Lessons Violin Duets contains 47 violin duets for beginning through easy level performance. Duet violin parts and a piano accompaniment part for all the tunes presented in Mel Bay?s First Lessons Violin are included. This versatile duet book works hand in hand with First Lessons Violin, Suzuki and other violin methods. It is useful for violin classes, ensembles, recitals, and performances.This book has accompanying online audio of the duets. The two violin parts are split right and left so that the violinist may perform either part with the recording by changing the stereo balance. Includes access to online audio.

SKU: LO.9780834178113

ISBN 9780834178113.

Looking for an innovative way to incorporate your instrumentalists into your Christmas worship services? Our new Creative Carols Series is just for you! We've arranged five of your favorite Christmas carols for three different small ensembles (Woodwind Trio, Brass Quartet, & String Quartet.) These traditional carols are arranged in fresh popular styles, with rhythm section or piano accompaniment. You'll find quiet introspective treatments, energetic pop, swing tunes and Cuban grooves. All of these pieces can be accompanied by piano, rhythm section, or recorded rhythm tracks. Everything you need is provided on the included CD! Make Creative Carols part of your Christmas repertoire this year, and for years to come.The printed book includes the solo parts. An enhanced CD is included with the book and has printable PDF files with Solo / Piano scores, Rhythm / Piano parts for live accompaniment, stereo accompaniment tracks, and stereo demonstration tracks to help your.