Single Movements for Violin and Orchestra

SKU: HL.49045166

ISBN 9790220135002. UPC: 888680724214. 8.25x11.75x0.276 inches.

Violin Concerto is scored for a Classical-sized orchestra, with the addition of a harp and celeste, and lasts around 17 minutes. Although the work sets out to explore the lyrical characteristics of the solo instrument, it is only gradually that the violin finds its full, lyric voice, and thence, as the work progresses, a more dominant role. This, in one sense, is the 'journey' of the piece. The work's straightforward formal scheme consists of three movements (roughly fast-slow-fast) framed by a reflective introduction and epilogue. However, these formal divisions exist within a single, unbroken arc. Such an overall symmetrical shape places the slow Arioso (itself divided into three subsections) at the midpoint, sandwiched between the two Allegro movements. The dramaturgy of the piece centers on a twofold search. First there is the ongoing pursuit to recapture the simple melodic material stated by the solo violin - accompanied by thar harp's bass register - during the opening bars. Whilst aspects of this melody are invoked frequently throughout (especially in the violin cadenza which closes the Arioso movement), it is only with the final and most important climax of the work that the melody appears again in its complete form, now accompanied by violent, orchestral stabs. The second search is for a tonal resting place, the arrival of which is delayed until the close of the epilogue. The original version of the Violin Concerto, commissioned by the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra, was premiered in Amsterdam in February 2012 with Gordan Nikolic as soloist. The present, revised version was created for Barnabas Kelemen and the Halle.

SKU: CA.2703513

ISBN 9790007199180. Key: C major. Language: Latin.

Of the 19 Masses by Dittersdorf which have been handed down, the present Mass, which is being published for the first time, enjoyed a special popularity during the composer's lifetime and it was even performed for the coronation of emperor Franz II in the Frankfurt Cathedral. This solemn, prestigious Mass shows evidence of choral movements in traditional contrapuntal church style as well solo parts with a modern, cantabile character. In addition, the Gloria includes a lengthy virtuosic violin solo, which also lends the work a concertante character (Dittersdorf was a professional violinist). Score and part available separately - see item CA.2703500.

SKU: CA.3116412

ISBN 9790007209032. Text language: German/English.

This six-movement cantata was performed for the first time on 26 August 1725 in Leipzig. The text was written by Bach's Weimar cantata poet Salomon Franck and had been published earlier in 1715 in his collection Evangelisches Andachts-Opffer. Here, Bach bases his work around the form of the Weimar cantatas which take their texts from Franck's printed collection (BWV 132, 152, 161-163, 165): movements 1-5 are performed by vocal soloists, whilst only the final chorus is given to the chorus. The key concepts of the text are Barmherzigkeit [compassion], Erbarmen [mercy] and wahre Christenliebe [true Christian love]; the chamber music arrangement of the cantata corresponds with this. The two arias for tenor and alto, and the duet for soprano and bass do not contain da capo sections, but repeat the entire text in a condensed form. The instruments do not contrast as a rule, but are treated as a string group (movements 1, 4), duetting (movement 3), and as full unison (movement 5). What is remarkable in all three movements is the thematic linking of the instrumental ritornello parts with the vocal parts through which Bach achieves a kind of unity of form. Score and part available separately - see item CA.3116400.

SKU: CA.3111911

ISBN 9790007048754. Key: C major. Language: German/English. Text: Goes, Albrecht. Text: Albrecht Goes.

Bach's first cantata for the election of the Leipzig town council, composed in August 1723, is one of his most splendidly scored work from his Leipzig period. The choice of opening, with the representative form of a French overture, was suited to a festive orchestral scoring. Two choral movements frame a middle section which consists of two arias and a recitativo accompagnato with a trumpet ritornello. The conclusion of this extended festive music takes a reflective turn in movements 8 and 9, when Bach allows a recitative to be followed by simple, prayer-like chorale movement. Score and part available separately - see item CA.3111900.

SKU: CA.3103012

ISBN 9790007205416. Text language: German/English.

The cantata Freue dich, erloste Schar BWV 30 is one of Bach's last church cantatas. Originally composed as a parody of the cantata Angenehmes Wiederau BWV 30a for the Feast of St. John's Day in 1738, it still enjoys a great popularity today. Its extraordinary length (12 movements) made it possible for Bach to employ four vocal soloists who, together with instrumental soloists, choir and orchestra contribute to the generally festive character of this work. Score and part available separately - see item CA.3103000.

SKU: CA.3321512

ISBN 9790007051686. Language: Latin.

C. P. E. Bach's nine-movement Magnificat (1749), the first great vocal work from his Berlin years, is among the most magnificent sounding, in which the solo vocal parts are also among the most ambitious settings of the Hymn to the Virgin Mary (Luke 1). The work fulfills all the criteria required for a larger sacred composition: grandeur, dignity, polyphonic and concertante choral movements, sensitive (empfindsam) and expressive arias, a long concluding double fugue. This richly scored Magnificat (with 3 trumpets and timp. ad. lib.), which is almost one hour in duration, would be well suited, for example, as the central work on every Christmas or pre-Christmas concert programme. Score and part available separately - see item CA.3321500.

SKU: CA.1036912

ISBN 9790007190538. Key: F major. Language: German/English.

The Bach contemporary Christian August Jacobi is among those composers who made a lasting impression among 18th century Middle German composers, since the influence of the Thomaskantor himself was limited primarily to Leipzig. Jacobi's cantatas are richly varied and they not too difficult to perform. Five of the six movements of the Christmas cantata Also hat Gott die Welt geliebet for soli, choir, strings and basso continuo are based on Luther's Christmas chorale Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her, which give the work a traditional character (the text of the first movement is based on the Gospel of St. John). The richly varied instrumentation and alternation between choral movements and duets by the soloists bring to the sound of the cantata a variety which will also be enhanced by the use of the harp (ad libitum). Score and part available separately - see item CA.1036900.

SKU: CA.5126211

ISBN 9790007224677. Key: C major. Language: Latin.

Leopold Mozart described KV 262, unlike Mozart's considerably shorter masses of the same period, as a Missa longa. The prolixity of some of the movements and of concluding fugues in the Gloria and Credo is indeed surprising. The full orchestral scoring also emphasizes the ceremonial character of this Mass. Score and part available separately - see item CA.5126200.

SKU: CA.4065712

ISBN 9790007085292. Key: B flat major. Language: Latin.

With a total duration of about 30 minutes, Schubert's Mass in B flat major (D 324), written in 1815, is considerably longer than Mozart's and Haydn's classical Brevis masses, and its large instrumental ensemble with strings, woodwinds, brass and timpani even gives it a clearly solemn character. Overall, Schubert was inspired by the late Haydn style of the symphonic mass (e.g., the division into six large movements, the omission of arias for the vocal soloists who are instead juxtaposed with the choir, singing short passages either singly or as a group) without, of course, achieving its temporal expansion. This is a representative, musically appealing work that excels with its multi-layered, detailed text treatment. It is, therefore, suitable for special occasions and the high feasts of the church year and can be mastered well by experienced church choirs. Score and part available separately - see item CA.4065700.