Fun with Bongos

SKU: MB.98284M

ISBN 9780786693429. 8.75 x 11.75 inches.

Recent interest in bongos has surged with the inclusion of bongos in almost every type of music including classical, rock, flamenco, jazz, Latin, Middle Eastern and East Indian. Fun with the Bongos was written to provide a simple guide for someone without any musical experience who wants to learn to play the bongos. The book is designed to teach drum notation, basic bongo technique, simple rhythms and their application. In addition it develops familiarity with the construction, nomenclature and characteristics of the bongos. Fun with the Bongos is the first level in a series of books written by the author. Now includes Spanish and Portuguese translations. Audio download available online.

SKU: CF.YPS217

ISBN 9781491156544. UPC: 680160915088. 9 x 12 inches.

Hope Remains Within was commissioned by and composed for the Mount Nittany Middle School 7th and 8th Grade Concert Bands. Having heard the students of Mount Nittany perform another work of mine, I was very excited when their director, Johanna Steinbacher, approached me about writing a piece specifically for them. I knew right away that I wanted to write something that would tie in with their non-music curriculum in some way, but I wasn't exactly sure how, or what. Johanna talked to some of her students and learned that, in 7th grade, the students spend a good deal of time studying mythology in their English class. In particular, two clarinet students mentioned how much they enjoyed the story of Pandora. As such, I decided to use that story as the basis of this composition. Hope Remains Within doesn't attempt to re-tell the story, event by event, in musical terms. Instead, my goal was to address what seems to be one of the central issues of the Pandora myth. Though there are some variations, we probably all know the basics as told by the ancient Greek poet Hesiod. Zeus decides to punish Prometheus for stealing fire from heaven and giving it to humans. He and the other gods create Pandora, a beautiful and deceitful woman, and they give her to Prometheus's brother Epimetheus as a bride. Pandora is herself given a jar (according to many sources, jar seems to be a more accurate translation for what we commonly call Pandora's box) which contained numerous evils, diseases, and other pains. Out of curiosity, Pandora opens the jar and releases all of these evils into the world. But one thing remains in the jar: hope. The issue of hope seems to be one of the big interpretive questions of the Pandora myth. Why does hope remain within the jar? Why doesn't it come out of the jar to help humanity? Is hope being held on a pedestal of some sort? Is hope deliberately withheld from humanity? Why was hope in the jar with all those evils in the first place? I'm not enough of a mythological scholar to claim to have definitive answers to those questions, but these are the questions that I've tried to engage from a musical perspective in Hope Remains Within. I encourage the students and listeners to consider their own ideas of what hope is, and where you can find your own hope when needed. Musically, Hope Remains Within draws one of its main themes from the Prometheus Symphony by Alexander Skryabin (Scriabin). The note sequence F-D-Gb -F, heard near Hope's beginning played by alto saxophones and chimes, comes from the opening measures of Skyrabin's work. Given the important role that Prometheus plays in the Pandora myth, this seemed like an appropriate musical gesture to quote. This Prometheus motive is varied throughout the course of the piece, and even provides closure at the end, recast in a major key. Additionally, I have tried to involve a manageable amount of chromaticism in this piece. I have worked from the key of Bb major, no doubt familiar to every student who has ever played an instrument in a band. But I have added three extra notes: Db, Gb, and Ab, which are drawn from the key of Bb minor. During the piece's slow opening, I have allowed these minor key pitches to mingle freely within the Bb major tonality, adding extra color and (I hope!) beauty. As the piece progresses, though, the tempo increases, and we lose sense of the Bb major key entirely, and these extra notes play a more important role. But finally, Bb major returns triumphantly and all the extra notes are gone, except for a brief memory near the very end. (Ok, there are a couple of E-naturals that sneak in there along the way. I couldn't resist.).
Hope Remains Within was commissioned by and composed for the Mount Nittany Middle School 7th and 8th Grade Concert Bands. Having heard the students of Mount Nittany perform another work of mine, I was very excited when their director, Johanna Steinbacher, approached me about writing a piece specifically for them. I knew right away that I wanted to write something that would tie in with their non-music curriculum in some way, but I wasn’t exactly sure how, or what. Johanna talked to some of her students and learned that, in 7th grade, the students spend a good deal of time studying mythology in their English class. In particular, two clarinet students mentioned how much they enjoyed the story of Pandora.As such, I decided to use that story as the basis of this composition. Hope Remains Within doesn’t attempt to re-tell the story, event by event, in musical terms. Instead, my goal was to address what seems to be one of the central issues of the Pandora myth. Though there are some variations, we probably all know the basics as told by the ancient Greek poet Hesiod. Zeus decides to punish Prometheus for stealing fire from heaven and giving it to humans. He and the other gods create Pandora, a beautiful and deceitful woman, and they give her to Prometheus’s brother Epimetheus as a bride. Pandora is herself given a jar (according to many sources, “jar” seems to be a more accurate translation for what we commonly call “Pandora’s box”) which contained numerous evils, diseases, and other pains. Out of curiosity, Pandora opens the jar and releases all of these evils into the world. But one thing remains in the jar: hope.The issue of hope seems to be one of the big interpretive questions of the Pandora myth. Why does hope remain within the jar? Why doesn’t it come out of the jar to help humanity? Is hope being held on a pedestal of some sort? Is hope deliberately withheld from humanity? Why was hope in the jar with all those evils in the first place?I’m not enough of a mythological scholar to claim to have definitive answers to those questions, but these are the questions that I’ve tried to engage from a musical perspective in Hope Remains Within. I encourage the students and listeners to consider their own ideas of what hope is, and where you can find your own hope when needed.Musically, Hope Remains Within draws one of its main themes from the Prometheus Symphony by Alexander Skryabin (Scriabin). The note sequence F-D-Gb -F, heard near Hope’s beginning played by alto saxophones and chimes, comes from the opening measures of Skyrabin’s work. Given the important role that Prometheus plays in the Pandora myth, this seemed like an appropriate musical gesture to quote. This Prometheus motive is varied throughout the course of the piece, and even provides closure at the end, recast in a major key.Additionally, I have tried to involve a manageable amount of chromaticism in this piece. I have worked from the key of Bb major, no doubt familiar to every student who has ever played an instrument in a band. But I have added three extra notes: Db, Gb, and Ab, which are drawn from the key of Bb minor. During the piece’s slow opening, I have allowed these minor key pitches to mingle freely within the Bb major tonality, adding extra color and (I hope!) beauty. As the piece progresses, though, the tempo increases, and we lose sense of the Bb major key entirely, and these extra notes play a more important role. But finally, Bb major returns triumphantly and all the extra notes are gone, except for a brief memory near the very end. (Ok, there are a couple of E-naturals that sneak in there along the way. I couldn’t resist.).

SKU: HL.197507

UPC: 888680645953. 6.0x12.25x7.25 inches.

It is believed that the first bongo drums were used in Cuba during the late 19th century. They were used for the music styles called Changui amd Son. This music originated with equal influences from both the African and Spanish cultures that lived in Cuba during that time. It eventually evolved into today's Salsa. Bongos are made of two differently-sized drums that are attached to one another. The larger one is called the “hembra” (meaning female in Spanish) and the smaller one is called the “macho” (meaning male). Tuned to varying pitches, the two are played together to create different tones and rhythms within a musical piece. Children can enjoy playing the IQ Plus Bongos by clamping it between their legs, adjusting the macho to lean against one thigh, hembra angles down against the opposite calf, and start making music by striking the drums with the pads of their fingertips. The bongos are one of the most popular instruments for beginner percussion players as it is one of the easiest to learn. Children will be able to enjoy creating different rhythms and sounds along with other percussion instruments as part of a band, or they can play individually as well! Features: •Constructed of environmentally friendly rubber wood •Equipped with premium buffalo skin heads •Durable and light weight, easy for children to hold and play.

SKU: CF.SPS80

ISBN 9781491152577. UPC: 680160910076. Key: Bb major.

With Wind and Water is a musical portrayal of an adventure on the high seas during the sailing age. It was during the 16th to the mid-19th century where large sailing vessels dominated global exploration, international trade, and naval warfare. The piece's compound meter provides the pulse of movement as it pitches and rolls with the rhythm of the waves. The driving main melodies convey the determination and courage of the explorers and their crew. Dissonant harmonies suggest rough seas, turbulent weather, and other constant dangers that sailors must endure. Finally, the ending sweeping melody and climax reflects the joy and triumph at arriving on a new land at the apex of a long and intense voyage.
With evidence of watercraft dating back to 8000 BC, travel by water has remained an important aspect of life to many civilizations. From paddling down a river or crossing a large lake, to steaming across an entire ocean, generations of humans have traveled on water to explore foreign lands, to seek food and precious materials, to move and trade cargo, and to attack and fend off enemies.With Wind and Water is a musical portrayal of an adventure on the high seas during the age of sail. It was during the sixteenth to the mid-nineteenth century when large sailing vessels dominated global exploration, international trade, and naval warfare.  Our ship sets sail!The compound meter provides the pulse of movement as it pitches and rolls with the rhythm of the waves. The driving main melodies convey the determination and courage of the explorers and their crew. Dissonant harmonies suggest rough seas, turbulent weather and other constant dangers that sailors must endure. The final sweeping melody and climax reflect the joy and triumph at arriving on a new land at the apex of a long and intense voyage. With Wind and Water was commissioned by the Florida Bandmasters Association for the 2016 Nine Star Honor Band.