Romantic Pieces for String Quartet

SKU: CF.BF168

ISBN 9781491165577. UPC: 680160924615.

Performing in a string quartet is a special experience when first learning to play a string instrument. Consisting of two violins, one viola, and one cello, the ensemble features the beauty of each instrument’s unique timbre and range. The 25 pieces in this collection have been carefully arranged for developing musicians in their first years of playing. Ranging from grade 1 to grade 2, each piece uses easy key signatures and accessible ranges in a variety of styles and tempi. Spanning several centuries, these pieces include works from the Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Post-Romantic eras. Representing many countries and cultures, this collection also includes music by women composers Louise Farrenc, Cécile Chaminade, Mélanie Bonis, Louise Reichardt, and Amy Beach. Ideal for recitals and adjudicated events, this compilation of approachable music promises developing string players a rewarding first introduction to the string quartet.

SKU: CF.BF169

ISBN 9781491165584. UPC: 680160924622.

Performing in a string quartet is a special experience when first learning to play a string instrument. Consisting of two violins, one viola, and one cello, the ensemble features the beauty of each instrument’s unique timbre and range. The 25 pieces in this collection have been carefully arranged for developing musicians in their first years of playing. Ranging from grade 1 to grade 2, each piece uses easy key signatures and accessible ranges in a variety of styles and tempi. Spanning several centuries, these pieces include works from the Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Post-Romantic eras. Representing many countries and cultures, this collection also includes music by women composers Louise Farrenc, Cécile Chaminade, Mélanie Bonis, Louise Reichardt, and Amy Beach. Ideal for recitals and adjudicated events, this compilation of approachable music promises developing string players a rewarding first introduction to the string quartet.

SKU: CF.BF171

ISBN 9781491165607. UPC: 680160924646.

Performing in a string quartet is a special experience when first learning to play a string instrument. Consisting of two violins, one viola, and one cello, the ensemble features the beauty of each instrument’s unique timbre and range. The 25 pieces in this collection have been carefully arranged for developing musicians in their first years of playing. Ranging from grade 1 to grade 2, each piece uses easy key signatures and accessible ranges in a variety of styles and tempi. Spanning several centuries, these pieces include works from the Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Post-Romantic eras. Representing many countries and cultures, this collection also includes music by women composers Louise Farrenc, Cécile Chaminade, Mélanie Bonis, Louise Reichardt, and Amy Beach. Ideal for recitals and adjudicated events, this compilation of approachable music promises developing string players a rewarding first introduction to the string quartet.

SKU: CF.H84

ISBN 9781491165539. UPC: 680160924530.

Marcel Tournier (1879–1951) was one of the most important harpist/composers in the history of the harp. Over his long career, he added a significant catalogue of very beautiful works to the harp repertoire. Many of his solo works, almost one hundred, have been consistently in print since they were first published. But in recent years harpist Carl Swanson has discovered a treasure trove of pieces by Tournier heretofore unknown and unpublished. These include the Déchiffrages in this edition, as well as songs set for voice, harp, and string quartet, and ensemble arrangements of some of his most beloved works.All of the works that Carl Swanson found were in manuscript only. With the help of the great harpist Catherine Michel, he has put these pieces into playable form, and they are being published for the very first time. He and Catherine often had to re-notate passages to show clearly how they could be played, adding fingerings and musical nuances, tempos, pedals, and pedal diagrams.Tournier wrote these pieces when he was in his 20s, and before he became the impressionistic composer those familiar with his work know so well. They are written in the late nineteenth-century romantic style that was being taught at that time at the Paris Conservatory. They are beautiful short, intermediate level pieces by a first rate composer, and add much needed repertoire to that level of playing.
Marcel Tournier (1879–1951) was one of the most important harpist/composers in the history of the harp. He graduated from the Paris Conservatory with a first prize in harp in 1899. He also studied composition there and won a second prize in the prestigious Prix de Rome competition, as well as a first prize in the Rossini competition, another major composition competition of the day. From 1912 to 1948 he taught the harp class at the Paris Conservatory. But composition, and almost entirely, composition for the harp, was the main focus of his life. His published works, including many works for solo harp, a few for harp and other instruments, and several songs, number around one hundred pieces.In 2019, while researching Tournier for my edition MARCEL TOURNIER: 10 Pieces for Solo Harp, I discovered that there was a significant list of pieces by this composer that had never been published and were not included on any inventory of his music. Principal on this list were his déchiffrages (pronounced day-she-frahge, like the second syllable in the word garage).The word déchiffrage means sight-reading exercise, and that was their original purpose. Tournier numbered and dated these pieces, with dates ranging from 1900 to 1910, indicating that they were in all likelihood written for Alphonse Hasselmans’ class at the Paris Conservatory. Tournier was probably told how long to make each one, and how difficult. They range in length from two to four pages, with only one in the whole series extending to five, and from thirty to fifty-five measures, with only one extending to eight-five. The level of difficulty for the whole series is intermediate, with some at the easier end, and others at the middle or upper end.We don’t know if they were intended to test students trying to enter the harp class, or if they were used to test students in the class as they played their exams. The fact that they were never published means that students had to not only sight read them, but sight read them in manuscript form!I worked from digital images of the original manuscripts, which are in the private music library of a harpist in France. She had twenty-seven of these pieces, and this edition is the second in a series of three that will publish, for the first time, all of the ones that I have found thus far. The manuscripts themselves consist of little more than notes on the page: no pedals written in, no fingerings, few if any musical nuances and tempo markings, and no clear indication as to which hand plays which notes. These would have been difficult to sight read indeed! My collaborator Catherine Michel and I added musical nuances, fingerings, pedals and pedal diagrams, and tempo indications to put them into their current condition.At the time these were written, Tournier would have been in his twenties, having just graduated from the harp class himself (1899), and might still have been in the composition class. These are the earliest known pieces that he wrote, and they were written at the very beginning of a cultural revolution and upheaval in Paris that was to completely and profoundly alter musical composition. Tournier himself would eventually be caught up in this new way of composing. But not yet.All of the déchiffrages are written in the late romantic style that was being taught at that time at the Paris Conservatory. Each one is built on a clear musical idea, and the variety over the whole series makes them wonderful to listen to as well as to learn. They are also great technical lessons for intermediate level players.The obvious question is: Why didn’t Tournier publish these pieces, and why didn’t he list them on his own inventory of his music? Actually, four of them were published, with small changes, as his collection Four Preludes, Op. 16. These came from the ones that will be in volume three of this series from Carl Fischer. His first large piece, Theme and Variations, was published in 1908, and his two best known and frequently played pieces, Féerie and Au Matin, followed in 1912 and 1913 respectively. We can only speculate because there is so much still unknown about Tournier and about these unpublished pieces. He may have looked at them, fresh out of school as he was, as simply a way to make some quick money. The first several pieces that he did publish are much longer than any of the déchiffrages. So it could be that, because of their shorter length, as well as the earlier musical style that he was moving away from, he chose not to publish any more of them. We may never know the full story. But all these years later, more than a century after they were composed, we can listen to them for their own merits, and not measured against whatever else was going on at the time. The numbers on these pieces are the ones that Tournier assigned to them, and the gaps between some of the numbers suggest that there are perhaps thirty or more of these pieces still to be found, if they still exist. They will, in all likelihood, be found, as these were, in private collections of harp music, not in institutional libraries. We can only hope that more of them will be located in years to come.—Carl SwansonGlossary of French Musical TermsTournier was very precise about how he wanted his pieces played, and carefully communicated this with many musical indications. He used standard Italian words, but also used French words and phrases, and occasionally mixed both together. It is extremely important to observe and understand everything that he put on the page.Here is a list of the French words and phrases found in the pieces in this edition, with their translation.bien chanté well sung, melodiousdécidé firm, resolutediminu peu à peu becoming softer little by littleen diminuant becoming softeren riten. slowing downen se perdant dying awayGaiement gayly, lightlygracieusement gracefully, elegantlyLéger light, quickLent slowmarquez le chant emphasize the melodyModéré at a moderate tempopeu à peu animé more lively, little by littleplus lent slowerRetenu held backsans lenteur without slownesssans retinir without slowing downsec drily, abruptlysoutenu sustained, heldtrès arpegé very arpeggiatedTrès Modéré Very moderate tempoTrès peu retenu slightly held backTrès soutenu very sustainedun peu retenu slightly held back.

SKU: CF.CAS63

ISBN 9780825889387. UPC: 798408089382. 8.5 x 11 inches. Key: D major.

Originally written for string quartet, this fantastic characteristic piece from Glazunov is a welcome addition to the string orchestra repertoire, as arranged by Deborah Baker Monday. Well-suited for the more advanced ensemble, it contains excellent musical opportunities and the chance to play the music of a prominent Russian composer. Deborah's setting stays very true to the original, but enhances it for use by the full ensemble. Alert your contest/festival music committee to this worthy new piece for high school string orchestras.
Alexander Glazunov (1865–1936) lived during a very transitional period of Russian music history, active as a composer, conductor, and teacher. He was a part of the Romantic school of Russian music following in the tradition of Tchaikovsky, like his fellow composers Borodin and Rimsky-Korsakov.During his years at the conservatory he instructed many students who chose to pursue the modern trends set forth by Debussy. Stravinsky, Shostakovich, and even Prokofiev took instruction from Glazunov. Although they considered him old-fashioned, he was remembered as a stabilizing influence during transitional times.Glazunov’s music stayed within the category of Russian Romanticsm: nationalistic with classical formality. His list of works includes numerous symphonies, concertos, piano and vocal works, and chamber works including seven string quartets.Op. 15 was first given the title “Suite” (a collection of dances), and after a friend’s recommendation he changed the name to “Novelettes”. The five movements are of contrasting style, but beautifully reminiscent of their particular themes:I. Alla SpagnuolaII. OrientaleIII. Interludium in modo anticoIV. ValseV. All’ UnghereseThis movement is very well adaptable for string orchestra. The original string quartet moodis light, using harmonics and pizzicato, but there are forceful sections which allow for strong sectional playing (especially with the cello and bass orchestral sound). There is very much interesting melodic material offered for all instruments which lends itself to a fantastic string orchestra arrangement. Conductors will find material in all sections which provide greatopportunities for rehearsal.The form is a large ABA with a D.C. al fine, but the sections are not square by any means.There is lots of energy and momentum in the material of both sections, as well as a modalcharacter which gives the music an exotic sound. Bowing patterns abound in all sections formore great teaching opportunities.

About Carl Fischer Concert String Orchestra Series

This series of pieces (Grade 3 and higher) is designed for advancing ensembles. The pieces in this series are characterized by:

• Expanded use of rhythms, ranges and keys but technical demands are still carefully considered
• More comprehensive bowing techniques
• Viola T.C. included
• Careful selection of keys and degree of difficulty for advancing musicians

SKU: FG.55011-521-7

ISBN 9790550115217.

X'seven (2010/18) is the final piece of a solo cello suite consisting of seven compositions. Each of the seven pieces can be performed individually or detached with another X-composition. Different works are yet to be performed cronologically. The X-works are composed by using the same material viewed at different angles. Their structure can be seen like a film starting several times from the beginning and from the same settings always looked from a new perspective. In the first compositions of X-suite seemingly random fragments join together piece by piece as the work goes on combining one into another organically. The story, tale or plot of the music and the gestures and figures of it transform in a new context but still remain identifiable. Olli Koskelin's (born 16 April 1955) compositional output reflects a wide range of interests. The vast area covered by his style encompasses the neo-impressionism of the piano work Courbures (1989) to the post-expressionist echoes of his Music for String Quartet (1981) as well as the breakneck virtuosity of his clarinet piece Exalte (1985/1991) and the rich romantic textures of his orchestral piece ... like a planet silently breathing... (1993). He often uses the overtone series like the French spectral composers and avoids dramatic culmination. Soft harmonics, tranquil arching melodies, a leisurely rhythmical pulse and a coherence of mood are in evidence in his later works as in Uurre (1997) for chamber ensemble, Miniatures (1997) for string quartet and Circles within for 19 solo strings.