Overtures

SKU: CA.5022500

ISBN 9790007090739.

Rheinberger's concert overtures are completely beholden to the tradition of the genre established at least since the 1820s. The spread of this genre was favored in equal measure by the growth of bourgeois musical culture and the overwhelming model of Beethoven's nine symphonies, which sowed a certain perplexity and discouragement among composers of the next generation and led them to turn increasingly to the smaller single-movement genre in their orchestral music. Soon a generic distinction arose between two types of overture. One was the autonomous overture, whose character results from its specific introductory function. Rheinberger's Academic Overture follows in this same line of tradition. The other type was the overture with subject-matter, in which the romantic inclination to recreate extra-musical material in music found an expecially fruitful field of exploration. Having originated as the opening item of an opera or play, the overture had, after all, long been accustomed to accommodating the contents of the work that followed. The concert overture on an extra-musical subject is in turn associated in particular with the works of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy. Rheinberger too, closely modeled his opp. 11 and 110 on Mendelssohn's overtures.

SKU: HL.4003859

UPC: 888680005788. 9.0x12.0x0.079 inches.

Combining a district-wide extravaganza for players of all levels creates an exciting spectacle for parents, while providing much needed incentives for the younger players. Shorewood Overture is specifically designed to be performed by multi-level bands and, rather than the typical massed band number where everyone plays at once, this ingenious overture allows each level to be featured briefly by itself, along with sections where everyone plays together. In addition, the “Level 3” parts include cues (also in the Level 3 score), which allows the piece to be performed by a single ensemble. Dur: 4:20 Note: Level 2/Level 1 versions are not playable separately.

SKU: HL.4004104

UPC: 888680034375. 9.0x12.0x0.107 inches.

Celebrating its 130th anniversary, the Woodstock City Band of Woodstock, Illinois (at one time known as “Spring City”) commissioned this dynamic overture honoring the long-standing tradition of summer concerts in the historic town square. Joyous and celebratory in nature, Spring City Overture features a dramatic opening segment that builds to the tuneful main theme. A brief reflective lyric section provides a moment of calm before returning to the energetic opening theme. Beautifully paced for maximum emotional impact and providing challenging parts for all sections, this powerful work is equally suitable for festivals or casual concerts. Dur: 5:00.