The Last-Minute Organist

SKU: PR.110418370

ISBN 9781491135075. UPC: 680160686247.

Compo sed as an organ solo by the 17-year-old Ives for his own performance purposes, the beloved Variations on America is a treat for any occasion, whether a holiday concert, a serious recital, or other special event. Danny Holt’s transcription for Piano, Four Hands adds a dazzling new option to play at home or on stage, taking best advantage of Ives’ tremendous contrasts in color, dynamics, and texture.
Composed when Charles Ives was a teenager, Variations on “America” is both a convenient introduction to Ives’ body of work, and an early example of his iconoclastic musical voice and creative genius. Just a few years after composing this piece, Ives would leave home to study music at Yale. But until then he had been taught by his father, George (who had been a bandmaster in the Civil War). George subjected the young Ives to experiments such as singing a song in one key while being accompanied in another, or arranging for two marching bands to converge on a town center, with the resulting cacophony that ensued.The Variations exemplifies an early period of experimentation in Ives’ work, spurred on by the unusual pedagogy of his father. The piece is particularly notable for its use of bitonality in the two interludes, subtly foreshadowing more well-known examples by Stravinsky, Bartók, and others by approximately two decades.The bitonal interludes were so ahead of their time, in fact, they were omitted from the first copy that was submitted to a publisher in 1892. (Alas, the piece was rejected even despite these “shocking” elements having been left out, and it wasn’t published until more than five decades later.) There is some ambiguity about when exactly Ives added the interludes into his manuscript copy, though ample evidence suggests he had performed the piece with the interludes around the time he notated the piece in 1891-92. In any case, in light of this piece and his other polytonal explorations from the last decade of the 19th century, it seems fair to give Ives credit for being a pioneer in this area!This arrangement for Piano, Four Hands, closely follows Ives’ original version for organ, setting aside William Schuman’s popular adaptation for symphony orchestra and William Rhoads’ band transcription of the Schuman orchestration. Pianists will find that the piece translates well to the instrument. Ideally, the choreography and logistics of elbow-to-elbow four-hands playing approximates the wild joy one gets from watching an organist play the piece (e.g., the elaborate pedal part in the final variation).In preparing this publication, attention was paid to details in the dual Critical Editions (Presser 443-41003) of both Ives’ manuscript edition and the 1949 publication edited by organist E. Power Biggs (who is credited with discovering what had been a long-lost, forgotten work.) But as with much of Ives’ output, attempting to create a true ‘urtext’ score is a futile endeavor, and especially with a piece such as this one – in which Ives incorporated improvisation in live performance – seems unnecessary anyhow. True die-hards are of course encouraged to consult the critical editions and even find inspiration in the orchestrated version. Generally, performers are advised to be wild, have fun, and not to be too rigid in their interpretive choices.Dynamics in this arrangement mostly follow the organ score closely. Pianists will use good judgment about pedaling throughout, which should be straightforward and intuitive. Courtesy accidentals have been provided frequently – without parentheses – balancing the need for extra clarity in the context of Ives’ murky musical language, and a desire to avoid unnecessary clutter.A few notes that might inform interpretive decisions:mm. 15-16: There are inconsistencies here between Ives’ original manuscript and the 1949 Biggs edition, regarding the top voice in m. 15, beat 3 (C# vs. Cn) and m. 16 (D Major vs. D Minor).mm. 76-84 & 143-146: In both Interludes, Ives emphatically notates extreme dynamic contrast, in order to highlight the bitonality. Although it may seem counterintuitive (or even a misprint, as has apparently been misconstrued by some), performers are urged to follow the composer’s marking!m. 109: Two-note slurs have been added here for clarity and consistency with other similar passages, though they do not appear in either the original manuscript or Biggs.m. 112: The last two eighth notes of Primo appear as 16ths in the original manuscript.mm. 183-186: The original manuscript has a slightly different bass line.mm. 184 & 186: Primo gestures have been re-written to be slightly more idiomatic for Piano, Four Hands.m. 186: The breath mark at the end of this bar does not appear in either the manuscript or Biggs, but is an editorial suggestion – aside from being appropriately dramatic, it will indeed be necessary in a reverberant hall!I would like to thank Steven Vanhauwaert, the other half of my piano duo, 4handsLA, for his input on early drafts of this arrangement.— Danny Holt, April 2022.

SKU: HL.48184378

UPC: 888680846329. 10.0x13.5x0.283 inches.

“Oliv ier Messiaen (1908-1992) is known for his unique composition style. Incorporating complex rhythms, harmony and melodies, Book of the Holy Sacrement for Organ is no exception to the composer's popular, distinctive style. Composed in 1984, Book of the Holy Sacrement is a major collection of Organ pieces by the composer. Messiaen began to compose the cycle of compositions in 1928 and it comprises 18 parts. The work was first performed in 1986 by organist, Almut Roessler, with a typical performance lasting about 100 minutes. Messiaen's Book of the Holy Sacrement is essential to all advanced, virtuoso and contemporary organists seeking to expand and vary their repertoire.”.

SKU: HL.48180524

UPC: 888680795641. 9.0x12.0x0.104 inches.

Sonata Eroica, Op. 94 (1930) is a melodious piece composed by Joseph Jongen for great organ. Dedicated to Joseph Bonnet who was the organist of the St Eustache Church in Paris, this piece is quite difficult (upper intermediate/advanced level) and requires the use of different keyboard divisions and pedals. Lasting around 16 minutes, this wonderful work is quite architectural and will astonish you by its grandeur. It is the perfect piece to include in a recital. Joseph Jongen was a Belgian organist, composer and professor of harmony and counterpoint. He won the Belgian Prix de Rome and composed numerous pieces including music chamber works, symphonies, concertos and songs. His most famous piece is the Symphonie Concertante (1926).

SKU: HL.48186222

UPC: 888680830182. 9x12 inches.

“Born in 1955, Lebanese-French composer, organist and improviser Naji Hakim studied under Jean Langlais at the Paris Conservatoire before succeeding Olivier Messiaen as organist of the Saint Trinity Church in Paris. Considering his significant musical training, Langlais' compositions are created from a wealth of knowledge and understanding, Concerto for Violin being no exception. Composed in 2002, Concerto for Violin, with String Orchestra or Piano reduction accompaniment, is highly modern in composition. With a typical performance lasting about 35 minutes, the concerto is made up of three movements. The solo Violin line addresses many virtuosic techniques, including double and triple stops, articulation, complex rhythms, varying bowings and a huge range of performance directions, amongst other aspects. For all advanced violinists, seeking varied, modern repertoire, Hakim's Concerto for Violin is an essential addition to the repertoire.&rdquo.

SKU: BA.BA10303-01

ISBN 9790006559503. 33 x 26 cm inches. Key: C minor. Preface: Michael Stegemann.

The third symphony by Camille Saint-Saens, known as the Organ Symphony, is the first publication in a complete historical-critical edition of the French composer's instrumental works.

I gave everything I was able to give in this work. [...] What I have done here I will never be able to do again.Camille Saint-Saens was rightly proud of his third Symphony in C minor Op.78, dedicated to the memory of Franz Liszt. Called theOrgan Symphonybecause of its novel scoring, the work was a commission from the Philharmonic Society in London, as was Beethoven's Ninth, and was premiered there on 19 May 1886. The first performance in Paris followed on 9 January 1887 and confirmed the composer's reputation asprobably the most significant, and certainly the most independent French symphonistof his time, as Ludwig Finscher wrote in MGG. In fact the work remains the only one in the history of that genre in France to the present day, composed a good half century after the Symphonie fantastique by Hector Berlioz and a good half century before Olivier Messiaen's Turangalila Symphonie.

You would think that such a famous, much-performed and much recorded opus could not hold any more secrets, but far from it: in the first historical-critical edition of the Symphony, numerous inconsistencies and mistakes in the Durand edition in general use until now, have been uncovered and corrected. An examination and evaluation of the sources ranged from two early sketches, now preserved in Paris and Washington (in which the Symphony was still in B minor!) via the autograph manuscript and a set of proofs corrected by Saint-Saens himself, to the first and subsequent editions of the full score and parts. The versions for piano duet (by Leon Roques) and for two pianos (by the composer himself) were also consulted. Further crucial information was finally found in his extensive correspondence, encompassing thousands of previously unpublished letters. The discoveries made in producing this edition include the fact that at its London premiere, the Symphony probably looked quite different from its present appearance ...

No less exciting than the work itself is the history of its composition and reception, which are described in an extensive foreword. With his Symphony, Saint-Saens entered right into the dispute which divided French musical life into pro and contra Wagner in the 1880s and 1890s. At the same time, the work succeeded in preserving the balance between tradition and modernism in masterly fashion, as a contemporary critic stated:The C minor Symphony by Saint-Saens creates a bridge from the past into the future, from immortal richness to progress, from ideas to their implementation.

On 19 March 1886 Saint-Saens wrote to the London Philharmonic Society, which commissioned the work:

Work on the symphony is in full swing. But I warn you, it will be terrible. Here is the precise instrumentation: 3 flutes / 2 oboes / 1 cor anglais / 2 clarinets / 1 bass clarinet / 2 bassoons / 1 contrabassoon / 2 natural horns / [3 trumpets / Saint-Saens had forgotten these in his listing.] 2 chromatic horns / 3 trombones / 1 tuba / 3 timpani / organ / 1 piano duet and the strings, of course. Fortunately, there are no harps. Unfortunately it will be difficult. I am doing what I can to mitigate the difficulties.

As in my 4th Concerto [for piano] and my [1st] Violin Sonata [in D minor Op.75] at first glance there appear to be just two parts: the first Allegro and the Adagio, the Scherzo and the Finale, each attacca. This fiendish symphony has crept up by a semitone; it did not want to stay in B minor, and is now in C minor.

It would be a pleasure for me to conduct this symphony. Whether it would be a pleasure for others to hear it? That is the question. It is you who wanted it, I wash my hands of it. I will bring the orchestral parts carefully corrected with me, and if anyone wants to give me a nice rehearsal for the symphony after the full rehearsal, everything will be fine.

When Saint-Saens hit upon the idea of adding an organ and a piano to the usual orchestral scoring is not known. The idea of adding an organ part to a secular orchestral work intended for the concert hall was thoroughly novel - and not without controversy. On the other hand, Franz Liszt, whose music Saint-Saens' Symphony is so close to, had already demonstrated that the organ could easily be an orchestral instrument in his symphonic poem Hunnenschlacht (1856/57). There was also a model for the piano duet part which Saint-Saens knew and may possibly have used quite consciously as an exemplar: theFantaisie sur la Tempetefrom the lyrical monodrama Lelio, ou le retour a la Vie op. 14bis (1831) by Berlioz. The name of the organist at the premiere ist unknown, as, incidentally, was also the case with many of the later performances; the organ part is indeed not soloistic, but should be understood as part of the orchestral texture.

In fact the subsequent success of the symphony seems to have represented a kind of breakthrough for the composer, who was then over 50 years of age.My dear composer of a famous symphony, wrote Saint-Saens' friend and pupil Gabriel Faure:You will never be able to imagine what a pleasure I had last Sunday [at the second performance on 16 January 1887]! And I had the score and did not miss a single note of this Symphony, which will endure much longer than we two, even if we were to join together our two lifespans!

About Barenreiter Urtext

What can I expect from a Barenreiter Urtext edition?< /p>

MUSICOLOGICA LLY SOUND
- A reliable musical text based on all available sources
- A description of the sources
- Information on the genesis and history of the work
- Valuable notes on performance practice
- Includes an introduction with critical commentary explaining source discrepancies and editorial decisions

... AND PRACTICAL
- Page-turns, fold-out pages, and cues where you need them
- A well-presented layout and a user-friendly format
- Excellent print quality
- Superior paper and binding

SKU: HL.48182456

UPC: 888680831288. 7.0x10.5x0.313 inches.

“Comp osed in 1964, Et Exspecto Resurrectionem Mortuorum is a religious piece by Olivier Messiaen which title means ?And I wait for the resurrection of the dead?. Commissioned by André Malraux, this orchestra lasts approximately 35 minutes and was written for the commemoration of the dead in the world wars. It features five movements: I. ”“Des profondeurs de l'abîme, je crie vers toi, Seigneur: Seigneur, écoute ma voix!”“ II. ”“Le Christ, ressuscité des morts, ne meurt plus; la mort n'a plus sur lui d'empire.”“ III. ”“L'heure vient où les morts entendront la voix du Fils de Dieu...”“ IV. ”“Ils ressusciteront, glorieux, avec un nom nouveau -- dans le concert joyeux des étoiles et les acclamations des fils du ciel.”“ V. ”“Et j'entendis la voix d'une foule immense...”“ This is the conductor's score which includes all parts. Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992) was a French Organist and composer passionate about Ornithology and one of the most important composers of his century. Inspired by Japanese music, he had a very special way of composing and his work can be identified by its complexity, its diatonic aspect, its harmony with limited transposition, its colour and its additive rhythms. He composed many works related to ornithology and birdsongs, including the Bird Catalogue in 7 volumes and the Treatise on rhythm, colour and ornithology in 7 volumes.”.

SKU: HL.48182046

UPC: 888680788254. 9.25x12.25 inches.

The Celestial Banquet, by Olivier Messiaen is one of his earliest compositions. Written for organ, this piece lasts 7 minutes because of its slow tempo that gives it a timeless feeling. This piece is quite challenging and would require an advanced technical level. Written in Octatonic mode, The Celestial Banquet used a theme that was transposed twice for less monotony. Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992) was a French organist and composer who was also passionate about ornithology. Inspired by Japanese music, he had a very special way of composing and his work can be identified by its complexity, its diatonic aspect, its harmony with limited transposition, its color and its additive rhythms. He composed many works related to ornithology and birdsong, including the 'Bird Catalogue' in 7 volumes and the 'Treatise on rhythm, color and ornithology' in 7 volumes.

SKU: HL.48181307

UPC: 888680866853. 6.0x8.25x0.249 inches.

“This edition of The Ascension for Orchestra by Olivier Messiaen is the conductor?s edition. This religious work lasts approximately 27 minutes and is divided into four parts. I. Majesté du Christ demandant sa gloire à son père (Saint John?s Gospel) II. Alléluïas sereins d?une âme qui désire le ciel (Ascension Mass) III. Alléluïa sur la trompette, Alléluïa sur la cymbale (Psalm 46) IV. Prière du Christ montant vers son père (Saint John?s Gospel) This piece also exists for Solo Organ. Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992) was a French organist and composer passionate about Ornithology and one of the most important composers of his century. Inspired by Japanese music, he had a very special way of composing and his work can be identified by its complexity, its diatonic aspect, its harmony with limited transposition, its colour and its additive rhythms. He composed many works related to ornithology and birdsong, including the 'Bird Catalogue' in 7 volumes and the 'Treatise on rhythm, colour and ornithology' in 7 volumes.”.

SKU: CA.2710912

ISBN 9790007200473. Language: Latin.

Next to Leopold Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Johann Michael Haydn, Johann Ernst Eberlin is regarded as one of the most important musicians who worked at the Court of the Archbishop in the 18th century. As Court Music Director, organist and composer he had a lasting influence on musical life in both Salzburg, as well as in the entire south-German region. His extensive oeuvre comprises over 300 works, and his compositions served as models for the young Mozart. Score and part available separately - see item CA.2710900.

SKU: CA.2710913

ISBN 9790007200480. Language: Latin.

Next to Leopold Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Johann Michael Haydn, Johann Ernst Eberlin is regarded as one of the most important musicians who worked at the Court of the Archbishop in the 18th century. As Court Music Director, organist and composer he had a lasting influence on musical life in both Salzburg, as well as in the entire south-German region. His extensive oeuvre comprises over 300 works, and his compositions served as models for the young Mozart. Score and part available separately - see item CA.2710900.

SKU: HL.48183263

UPC: 888680872465. 9.0x12.0x0.071 inches.

“Thre e Movements is a piece for Flute and Organ by Jehan Alain. Initially composed for Flute and Piano, it was adapted by Marie-Claire Alain. Lasting 5 minutes 45 seconds, this work would be perfect for upper-intermediate players. The Flute has a key of 4 sharps and the Organ scores include some Pedals This piece is divided into three parts: 1. Andante, 2. Allegro con grazia and 3. Allegro Vivace. Jehan Alain is a French organist who became famous with his Suite for Organ. A Student of Marcel Dupré and Roger Ducasse among others, he kept composing all his life. One of his most famous international pieces is 'Litanies'.”.

SKU: HL.14042246

ISBN 9781780382227. UPC: 884088922061. 6.5x9.75x0.045 inches.

This setting of the opening to Psalm 102 was composed in the early 1680s. Purcell, who was in his early twenties, had succeeded John Blow as organist of Westminster Abbey around the beginning of the decade and his star was in the ascendant as a court composer.

In this piece he pulls off a remarkable compositional coup: a single, gradual climax, lasting over two minutes and culminating on the final repetition of the word 'come', is achieved through a sublime, freely developing eight-part weave of the opening material. The harmonies that result from the chromatic inflections on the word 'crying' all serve the mounting tension in this extraordinary miniature.

Studyof the autograph manuscript suggest that this anthem was intended to be the opening part of a larger work which was never completed.

SKU: CA.2710900

ISBN 9790007075934. Language: Latin.

Next to Leopold Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Johann Michael Haydn, Johann Ernst Eberlin is regarded as one of the most important musicians who worked at the Court of the Archbishop in the 18th century. As Court Music Director, organist and composer he had a lasting influence on musical life in both Salzburg, as well as in the entire south-German region. His extensive oeuvre comprises over 300 works, and his compositions served as models for the young Mozart.

SKU: CA.2710905

ISBN 9790007110833. Language: Latin.

Next to Leopold Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Johann Michael Haydn, Johann Ernst Eberlin is regarded as one of the most important musicians who worked at the Court of the Archbishop in the 18th century. As Court Music Director, organist and composer he had a lasting influence on musical life in both Salzburg, as well as in the entire south-German region. His extensive oeuvre comprises over 300 works, and his compositions served as models for the young Mozart. Score available separately - see item CA.2710900.

SKU: CA.2710911

ISBN 9790007200466. Language: Latin.

Next to Leopold Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Johann Michael Haydn, Johann Ernst Eberlin is regarded as one of the most important musicians who worked at the Court of the Archbishop in the 18th century. As Court Music Director, organist and composer he had a lasting influence on musical life in both Salzburg, as well as in the entire south-German region. His extensive oeuvre comprises over 300 works, and his compositions served as models for the young Mozart. Score and part available separately - see item CA.2710900.