Yorke-Edition

SKU: BT.YE0028

'Opens a new perspective in solo bass playing'. Das Orcher. A virtuoso work with rhythmic complexities.

Grade: Advanced.

SKU: BT.YE0075

Four Double Basses. Eight well-known Christmas carols in a new guise. Score and parts.

The Programme of Christmas Carols was first performed in New Orleans in 1976. In its original version, the players were required to wear Dickensian costume and a seasonal narrative preceded each of the carol arrangements. The texts appear below.

Duration without text: c.20 minutes
Duration with text: c.45 minutes

Introduction by Robert Rohe

The introductory text, assembled with the kind assistance of Father Peacock of Loyola University of New Orleans, was designed for use where the receptivity of the audience warrants. So little is known about thebeloved Christmas carols, it is fitting that a brief sketch of the carols' past be used to enhance the familiar music.

If desired, the introductory text may be omitted at the discretion of the performers.

The brief text preceding each carol should be used to acquaint the audience with what to expect, from a quartet that will be playing the unexpected. The text also will pace the program and will extend performance time to around 45 minutes.

In performance, the bass viol quartet of New Orleans wore peaked caps, and turtle necked sweaters to simulate the street performers of Dickens' time. The choice of four string basses for this program was to bring the closest relatives of the true viol into play.

History and development of the Christmas Carol

The celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ has been observed for nearly 2,000 years, through the ritual of the Christian Church, with part of that ritual being devoted to celebration in song. In those early days, church music was sung only, no musical instruments taking part in the service.

The type of song used by the church had the name 'plain-song'. It was a single line of melody, plain and unadorned, sung by one or more voices. By the year 1660 A.D., it had developed a second name, 'The Gregorian Chant', after Pope Gregory, who encouraged the use.

SKU: BT.YE0073

'This delightful divertimento is a typically excellent production of Yorke Edition'. Notes. Bravura, three movements. Recorded New Colophonium Bass Quartet (MusicaViva).

Grade: Moderate.

SKU: ST.YE0029

ISBN 9790570590292.

SKU: ST.YE0022

ISBN 9790570590223.

SKU: BT.YE0029

Relatively easy; written for the student. The second of the three movements is a tuneful Quodlibet based on folk songs.

SKU: BT.YBB1586

Op. 101 (1985).

SKU: PR.514050200

UPC: 680160249763.

SKU: BT.YE0009

Very little is known about the two sonatas which appear here in their original keys. They were placed in the library of the Music School in Oxford at the end of the seventeenth century in a form convenient for playing (i.e.unbound). The library was catalogued by Hake between 1850 and 1855 and the sonatas were eventually bound in 1855 with other instrumental and vocal manuscripts of the same period, some of which are dated 1698.

The sonatasare both inscribed on the title page Sonata Violone Solo. Col Basso per l'Organo, o Cembalo. A third sonata bears the words Sonata Violino e Violoncino â?¦ di Giovannino del Violone. Giovannino (=Little, or Young John)musthave been a performer, and although the third sonata has been copied by a different hand, it is conceivable that Giovannino is a connecting link between the three. He cannot, however, be assumed to be theirauthor.

The Violone was a six-stringed instrument with frets, and there is evidence to suggest that the Contrabasso of the same period was similar but probably a little larger; the Violoncino (=Little Violone, orVioloncello) must have been smaller. The word 'Violone' was also used as a collective term embracing all members of the Viol family, which means that the sonatas might well have been written for a tenor or a bass Viol, and notnecessarily a Violone as such. Indeed, when they are played on a Violone, or Double Bass the continuo bass line must be played at a lower pitch than the solo instrument, to prevent inversion of the intended harmony. (The use ofa Violone/Double Bass continuo or 16' organ tone would overcome this problem.)

The editor has added no ornaments or embellishments to the solo part as it appears in the original manuscript. It is open to debate whether aViolone player, owing to the very nature of his instrument, would have used any but the simplest melodic decorations. Nevertheless, the performer should acquaint himself thoroughly with those seventeenth century traditions thatare known today (see Dart.

SKU: BT.YE0078

Set work for Isle of Man Competition 1982 by an important British composer '...uses the bass in a dramatic and colourful way... a fine piece...' The Strad.

Grade: Advanced.

SKU: BT.YBB1584

SKU: ST.YE0007

ISBN 9790570590070.

SKU: ST.YBB1474

SKU: BT.YE0044

An interesting and cleverly created cooncerto that is enjoyable and easy on the ear! Composed in 1971 by Alan Ridout, here are two simple movements with strings, suitable for grades 5 and 8 and are set as part of the ABRSMexaminations.