Beethoven's Ninth

SKU: HL.49046422

ISBN 9781540090669. UPC: 840126916454.

Beethovens Birthday Boogie is a tribute to one of the greatest composers in musical history: in 2020 the music world will mark the 250th anniversary of his birth. This piano piece works in several Beethoven themes from the Fifth and Ninth Symphonies, presented inthe guise of a Boogie. It begins with what may be the most famous four-note motif in classical music, the musical symbol representing Beethoven. This is immediately followed by the theme from the Ode to Joy, this time in ternary rhythm, accompanied by aplayful Boogie-Woogie figure; another musical quotation is then followed by a brilliant cadenza. An imperfect cadence ending on the dominant leads into a solemn version of the familiar Happy Birthday tune in the style of Beethoven, then the piece ends with two characteristic jazz chords.

SKU: BT.DHP-1064074-140

9x12 inches. English-German-French-Dutch.

This unusual concert work, commissioned by the concert band ?Harmonie Concorde? from Sanem in Luxembourg, is built on two basic ideas: the evolution of the economic and social context of this Luxembourg city with its strong mining industry and the European concept, which is clearly present in this very small but prosperous country with its many European institutes. This is musically expressed in a few quotes from the European hymn Ode to Joy, the closing of Beethoven?s Ninth Symphony and from the Te Deum by Charpentier ? widely known as the signature tune for Eurovision broadcasts. A work of true unity.

Zwei Bilder des Landes Luxemburg bilden die Grundlage dieses ungewöhnlichen Werkes: Zunächst beschreiben schöne, teilweise düstere Klänge die Bergbauregion Luxemburg und ihre vielen Gastarbeiter.Mit Zitaten aus Beethovens Ode an die Freude und Charpentiers Te Deum wird Luxemburg als Sitz einiger wichtiger europäischer Institutionen vorgestellt. Der gemeinsame Nenner und Inspiration zum Titel Concordia - lateinisch für Einheit - ist das funktionierende Miteinander vielfältiger Kulturen und Interessen in so einem kleinen Land.

Concordia est une oeuvre de commande pour l’Orchestre d’Harmonie Concorde de Sanem au Luxembourg. Cette pièce de concert inhabituelle s’appuie sur deux éléments principaux : l’évolution du contexte économique et social de cette ville luxembourgeoise située dans une région minière et l’idéal européen souligné par une riche palette de nuances et l’utilisation de quelques fragments de l’Hymne la Joie et du Te Deum.

Concordia è un brano commissionato a Jan Van der Roost dall’Orchestra di Fiati Concorde di Sanem in Lussemburgo. Questo inusuale brano da concerto si appoggia su due elementi principali: l’evoluzione del contesto economico e sociale di questa citt lussemburghese situata in una regione mineraria, e l’ideale europeo evidenziato da una ricca gamma di suoni e dall’utilizzo di qualche frammento dell’Inno alla Gioia e del Te Deum.

SKU: HL.49006356

ISBN 9790001068871. 8.25x12.0x0.088 inches.

The European Hymn is the hymn not only of the European Union but of Europe in a broader sense. The melody has been taken from the Ninth Symphony by Ludwig van Beethoven from 1823.In the last movement of this symphony Beethoven set music to the 'Ode to Joy' by Friedrich von Schiller from 1785. This poem sprang from Schiller's idealistic vision of men who become brothers - a vision Beethoven shared with him.In 1972 the Council of Europe adopted Beethoven's 'Ode to Joy' as its anthem. The well-known conductor Herbert von Karajan was commissioned to arrange three instrumental versions - for solo piano, wind orchestra and symphony orchestra. Without words, in the universal language of music, the anthem is an expression of the idealistic values of freedom, peace and solidarity which Europe stands for.In 1985 the heads of state and government adopted the hymn as the EU's official anthem. It does not replace the national anthems of the member states, but rather celebrates common values as well as unity in diversity.The score of this offical anthem is exclusively available from the Schott publishing house.

SKU: PR.11641139S

UPC: 680160682119.

Barcarolles for a Sinking City was inspired by the city of Venice, a place that has long held the fascination of artists, writers and composers, and which I have been lucky enough to visit on several occasions. Sadly it seems that future generations may not be so lucky: in addition to the city's slow sinking and recently discovered tilting, studies predict that if global warming and the resultant rise of ocean levels is unabated, the entire city (as well as many other coastal cities around the globe) will be under water by 2100.   I. Funeral Gondola The late, cryptic piano works of Franz Liszt made a profound impression on me as a young composer, among them two works he entitled La Lugubre Gondola (usually translated as The Funeral Gondola ) which were said to be a premonition of Wagner's death in Venice, his coffin transported through the canals in a black gondola. These late pieces of Liszt acquired even greater significance to me after I spent two summers in Bayreuth under the patronage of Friedelind Wagner, the granddaughter of Wagner and great-granddaughter of Liszt. This movement is a meditation on Wagner, Liszt, Venice and its own evanescence. II. Barcarolle/Quodlibet The Quodlibet (Latin for what pleases) is a musical form dating back to the 15th century where many disparate melodies are juxtaposed. Popular in the Renaissance, sacred and secular melodies were combined, often to comical effect due to the resultant incongruity of the words. The form was considered the ultimate test of a composer's mastery of counterpoint. The most famous Quodlibet is without doubt the final Variation of Bach's Goldberg Variations. As a form the Quodlibet is less common in more recent music, although examples can be found in the works of Kurt Weill and David Del Tredici.   My own Barcarolle/Quodlibet was inspired by the (perhaps apocryphal) story of the funeral where musicians were asked to play a Bach Choral, but due to miscommunication played instead the Bacarolle from The Tales of Hoffmann. Here, the Bach Choral Allen Menschen mussen sterben (All Men Must Die) is heard in the strings pizzicato, with a tempo indication In slow motion. The alto line of the Bach suggests a phrase from Beethoven's Ninth Symphony (Alle Menchen werden Bruder) heard in the muted trombone. Before long, the famous tune from Offenbach's opera is heard, followed by quotations from iconic Barcarolles by Chopin, Mendelssohn and Faure, as well as two Venetian popular songs and more Beethoven.   III. Barcarola/Ostinato/Carillon An ostinato is a repeated musical figure, and carillon is Italian for music box. This movement references the obsolete genre of salon pieces that imitated music boxes: such works by composers like Liadov and Gretchaninov used to be a mainstay of pianists' encore repertoire. This movement is however much darker in conception than those pleasant trifles. Utilizing the full battery of percussion, the carefully notated temporal slowing of the ostinato becomes overwhelmed by a poignant chorale melody before this box is snapped shut.   IV. Barcarolle Oubliee (Forgotten Barcarolle) Marked limpido (still) the final movement begins with the sound of rain produced by a percussion instrument called (appropriately) a rain stick. Halting phrases in the harp coalesce into the accompaniment for a plangent melody heard in the clarinet. The central Adagio of this movement leads to a shattering climax, before the opening phrases return and dissipate into nothingness.

SKU: BR.EB-8118

ISBN 9790004175019. 9 x 12 inches.

Richard Wagner (1813-1883) is rightly considered as the 19th-century music dramatist whose formal and harmonic originality, for example in Tristan and Isolde, provided a significant impetus to the development of 20th-century music. Despite Wagner's fame, his reuvre for piano remains practically unknown. Tobe sure, these primarily early works and occasional compositions hardly even hint at the outstanding characteristics of the later works such as leit-motifs, flowing transitions or original forms. Nonetheless, whoever is acquainted with Wagner's later music dramas will undoubtedly not fail to be impressed by the individual melodic and harmonic traits of his piano works. The Sonata in B-flat Major Op. 1 is of special interest to us today since it is Wagner's first published work, composed in 1831 and printed in 1832 by Breitkopf & Hartel. At that time, Wagner was studying counterpoint with Theodor Weinlig, the choral master and music director of the Thomasschule in Leipzig. Weinlig, however, only agreed to give Wagner lessons if he promised to refrain from composing for half a year. In the course of his studies, Wagner was allowed to compose the piano sonata in B-flat Major as a kind of journeyman-work. His teacher Weinlig succeeded in having the work published by Breitkopf & Hartel. Hence the dedication of this piece to Weinlig is not surprising, since the 18-year-old Wagner would otherwise have had great difficulty finding a publisher. This Sonata in B-flat Major, which has long been out of print, is a reproduction of the first edition by Breitkopf & Hartel (plate number 10433). For this reprint, obvious typographical errors have been corrected (missing or wrong accidentals and dynamic indications). The work presents a four-movement classical sonata form and is stylistically reminiscent of Mozart and Beethoven. Shortly before composing this sonata, Wagner wrote a piano reduction of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, which was easily playable and yet gratifying to hear. This helps explain the octave-doublings typical of piano reductions. Wiesbaden, Fall 1980

Respectfully dedicated to Theodor Weinlig, the choral master and music director of the Thomasschule in Leipzig.

SKU: PE.EP73500

ISBN 9790577020464. 272 x 190mm inches. English.

What better way for choirs to celebrate Beethoven's 250th birthday than with this entertaining medley of some of his greatest hits (Fur Elise, Moonlight Sonata, Pathetique Sonata, and Fifth and Ninth Symphonies), cleverly arranged by Jim Clements?

The internationally-renowned British vocal ensemble VOCES8 is proud to inspire people through music and share the joy of singing. The celebration of diverse musical expression is central to the ensemble's ethos, and this is shown in their versatile concert programmes and innovative educational work.

The 'VOCES8 singles' series includes songs for which the group is particularly well known, in choral arrangements produced specifically for VOCES8.