Before and After Summer

SKU: HL.282476

ISBN 9781540034335. UPC: 888680789206. 9.0x12.0x0.846 inches.

100 songs popularized in the World War II era of the 1940s are included in this collection arranged for easy piano with lyrics. Songs include: Ac-cent-tchu-ate the Positive * Besame Mucho (Kiss Me Much) * Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy * Chattanooga Choo Choo * Don't Get Around Much Anymore * A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes * How High the Moon * I Get a Kick Out of You * It Might As Well Be Spring * Java Jive * Laura * Moonlight in Vermont * A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square * On a Slow Boat to China * Perfidia * Route 66 * Sentimental Journey * Some Enchanted Evening * The Surrey with the Fringe on Top * Take the A Train * Time After Time * When You Wish upon a Star * You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To * Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah * and more.

SKU: CF.CPS240

ISBN 9781491157862. UPC: 680160916467. 9 x 12 inches.

Composing this piece was an interesting process. A piece of a melody or an idea takes shape, and after writing it down, itas like planting a seed that starts to grow and develop. I got a snippet of a western idea and then thought of a monument in my hometown of Wheeling, West Virginia. The statue is called Madonna of the Trail. The history part of this piece started to take shape as I researched this statue. There are twelve of them located in twelve states where the Old Trail Road, or National Road, passes through. As the piece developed, I started to think about the travel of a pioneer woman and her family passing through various areas of our early country. The 3,000 mile coast-to-coast National road was realized in the early 1900s but was based on six trails that date back to the 1700s. After developing the introduction and theme to this concert band piece, the story began to take shape. The slower 3/4 section melody hints at Greensleeves (What Child Is This) which appropriately weaves itself into the mix. Finally heading further west into New Mexico, Arizona, and California, the melody takes on a Spanish flavor and returns to the main theme before its conclusion. Divisi parts that are optional can be utilized to add a richer sound. Feel free to experiment with octave changes in the woodwinds in the fuller sections, if students are comfortable playing up an octave. Always be aware of the musicality, blend, and especially legato playing when required.
Composing this piece was an interesting process. A piece of a melody or an idea takes shape, and after writing it down, it's like planting a seed that starts to grow and develop. I got a snippet of a western idea and then thought of a monument in my hometown of Wheeling, West Virginia. The statue is called Madonna of the Trail. The history part of this piece started to take shape as I researched this statue. There are twelve of them located in twelve states where the Old Trail Road, or National Road, passes through. As the piece developed, I started to think about the travel of a pioneer woman and her family passing through various areas of our early country. The 3,000 mile coast-to-coast National road was realized in the early 1900s but was based on six trails that date back to the 1700s. After developing the introduction and theme to this concert band piece, the story began to take shape. The slower 3/4 section melody hints at Greensleeves (What Child Is This) which appropriately weaves itself into the mix. Finally heading further west into New Mexico, Arizona, and California, the melody takes on a Spanish flavor and returns to the main theme before its conclusion. Divisi parts that are optional can be utilized to add a richer sound. Feel free to experiment with octave changes in the woodwinds in the fuller sections, if students are comfortable playing up an octave. Always be aware of the musicality, blend, and especially legato playing when required.
Composing this piece was an interesting process. A piece of a melody or an idea takes shape, and after writing it down, it’s like planting a seed that starts to grow and develop. I got a snippet of a western idea and then thought of a monument in my hometown of Wheeling, West Virginia.  The statue is called Madonna of the Trail. The history part of this piece started to take shape as I researched this statue. There are twelve of them located in twelve states where the Old Trail Road, or National Road, passes through.  As the piece developed, I started to think about the travel of a pioneer woman and her family passing through various areas of our early country.  The 3,000 mile coast-to-coast National road was realized in the early 1900s but was based on six trails that date back to the 1700s. After developing the introduction and theme to this concert band piece, the story began to take shape.  The slower 3/4 section melody hints at Greensleeves (What Child Is This) which appropriately weaves itself into the mix.  Finally heading further west into New Mexico, Arizona, and California, the melody takes on a Spanish flavor and returns to the main theme before its conclusion.  Divisi parts that are optional can be utilized to add a richer sound. Feel free to experiment with octave changes in the woodwinds in the fuller sections, if students are comfortable playing up an octave. Always be aware of the musicality, blend, and especially legato playing when required.

SKU: GI.G-1121

UPC: 785147812128.

On January 6, 2022, my friend Roger Ames passed after a battle with ALS. Throughout his illness, I dare say that work on this recording, selecting music and discussing scores, seemed to energize him every time we spoke. For musicians, I know our work gives our life purpose, but this recording seemed to give him a somewhat needed distraction. For me, this recording was one of the honors of my life. We all treated this music as sacred cargo. Roger heard a few tracks of the recording before he passed and wrote in a text the day before he passed that he “will listen from the other side.” For many years, I wanted to record an album of his music. In my mind, it was several projects ahead on our timetable. When Rog shared his diagnosis, I immediately said we would move the timeline for project to the summer of 2021. Rog selected all the music, much of which you will hear for the first time on this recording, which spans his entire career. The Same Stream met on hot days of an August summer in 2021 and recorded the music. Again, I am happy to say that Rog heard a few of the tracks before he passed. — James Jordan.