Latin American Christmas

Christmas round the world brings together carols from five countries, in settings which explore the vivid national characteristics of each country through the ages. Ideal for both string orchestra and quartet use, the arrangements exploit all the techniques and colours of the school or amateur ensemble. There is plenty of melodic interest for the inner parts and cello, while jazz, Latin-American and medieval music provide the inspiration for the up-beat accompaniments. The beginners' line (suitable for violin, viola and cello) allows everyone to join in the fun of festive music making at Christmas. / Ensemble Music / Recueil / Violon, Violoncelle, Alto et Contrebasse

Christmas Round The World brings together carols from five countries in settings which explore the vivid national charateristics of each country through the ages.Ideal for both string orchestra and quartet use the arrangements exploit all the techniques and colous of the school or amatuer ensemble. There is plently of melodic interest for the inner parts and cello while jazz latin-american and medieval music provide the inspiration for the up-beat accompaniments. The beginners' line (suitable for Violin Viola and Cello) allows everyone to join in the fun of festive music making at Christmas.

Five well-known Christmas carols simply arranged in Latin American style for classroom ensemble of virtually any size with the optional addition of guitar drum kit or rhythm instruments. They will sound effective simply using xylophones and glockenspiels but recorders flutes or violins may be added if available. The various possibilities are endless and the teacher should plan out each arrangement in advance with consideration of the instruments available the availability of individual players and so on. Invariably though the simplest treatment of the arrangement is the most effective.

Miguel Alcdzar was born in Mexico City on April 26 1942. He followed a professional career which involved activities in the fields of performance, pedagogy, musicology and composition. He gave the first performances of the Concertino by Blas Galindo, with the composer himself conducting the National Symphony Orchestra of Mexico, the Concierto of Manuel Ponce, in its original version, the Concerto of Michael Horvit, which was dedicated to Alcázar, the Concierto of Enrique Santos, with the American Wind Symphony Orchestra, and the 24 Preludios of Ponce. His recorded output includes music for baroque guitar of music in the manuscript 1560 in the Biblioteca Nacional, works by Bach and Weiss for lute, as well as unpublished music by Ponce and other Latin-American composers. Alcázar has been a faculty member of the Cleveland Institute of Music, the Conservatorio Nacional de Música, where he received his degree with honors in 1972, and later at the University of Veracruz. His publications of Mexican music were published by the Liga de Compositores de Mexico, the University of Veracruz, Tecla Editions of London and Editions Orphée. miguel.jpg (6157 bytes)The 12 Preludios were written by Miguel Alcázar as the result of his first two trips to the Soviet Union. During the first trip, in November-December of 1983, he met Nikita Koshkin during the presentation of Alcázar's work at the Union of Composers in Moscow. A few days later, he promised to write something for him, as a way of commemorating the beginning of their friendship, if Alcázar would write also something for Koshkin. Both agreed upon this and when Alcázar went back to the Soviet Union, for the International Music Festival held in May of 1984, Koshkin gave him The Elves, a suite in five movements. The composition of the 12 Preludios was started during the Christmas vacation of 1984 and terminated by mid-January of 1985. Both works, The Elves and the 12 Preludios were premiered by Alcázar at the Ponce Hall of the Fine Arts Palace in Mexico City on March 15 of 1988.

Teacher's Book-A unique collection of trios for different combinations of recorders: 2 descants and treble descant and 2 trebles descant treble and tenor. This selection features a wide range of well-known arrangements including spirituals Latin American dances classical favourites and a Christmas medley plus original pieces by John Pitts. The Pupil's Book contains the recorder parts and chord symbols; the Teacher's Book provides optional piano accompaniment forall the pieces.

Christmas Cantata (Sinfonia Sacra) the most famous piece by Daniel Pinkham composed in 1957 is a church composition for Chorus Double Brass and Organ. Written in Latin this version of the piece contains the Chorus score (SATB) with the Organ reduction. Accessible to good high-school and college singers the opening statement is sung by the whole SATB followed by the rhythmically complex Allegro section. The middle section is sung by Sopranos and Altos while the Rondo which is part of the final part is sung by the whole SATB its verses being interpreted by the different groups. Daniel Pinkham (1923-2006) is anAmerican composer organist and harpsichordist. Most of his compositions were related to church music and his best known works are the Christmas Advent and Wedding Cantatas.