Par WENNAKOSKI LOTTA. Lotta Wennäkoski's Pige (2021-2022) for string quartet was commissioned to be paired with the Death and the Maiden quartet by Franz Schubert ('pige' is Danish for girl). The composer tells: 'The first movement Vorüber, ach, vorüber! is based on the first half of Schubert’s lied lying behind his The Death and the Maiden quartet. The ”maiden’s song” in the beginning of the li…

Oper in Funf Akten Version 1756. Par RAMEAU JEAN-PHILIPPE. Richer than ever ? Rameau?s ?Zoroastre? in the version of 1756. Opera in five acts. Rameau?s revised version of his opera ?Zoroastre?, which could be heard and seen between 20 January 1756 and 26 March 1757 at the Académie royale de musique, was favourably received. Also from today?s point of view the work profits dramaturgically from many…

You know this Christmas carol, but you've never heard it like this before! Alan Billingsley's contemporary interpretation brings the traditional tune up to date. The SATB voicing sounds great a cappella, while a funky accompaniment works well to support the SAB and SSA. Bass and drums on the optional SoundTrax CD pump up the R and B groove, or add your own vocal percussion. / Choeur SSA

The arrangement was commissioned and recorded by 'Prisma' (members of the Vienna Philharmonic and Vienna Symphonic Orchestras). It can also be heard on 'That's Brass' (Oculus Brass Quintet, FMCD 90101). Medium / Brass quintet (2 trompettes, Cor, Trombone, Tuba)

Par THOMAS REDMOND. Although his scorching fingerpicking was most impressive at first glance, a closer look at 'Just Us' reveals that he is equally adept at what many musicians consider as a more difficult task: playing fewer notes... ones that mean more, and say more with less, as he does on album opener 'A Simple Gift', title cut 'Just Us', and 'One Sad Clown'. 'Just Us' is an album consisting l…

Par SPARKE PHILIP. To celebrate the 350th anniversary of the Stadtmusikkapelle Wilten in Innsbruck Philip Sparke composed Wilten Festival Overture. A bold fanfare, led by the horns, forms the opening of the work from which an expressive theme unfolds until the full band reaches a climax. Short solo statements from saxophone, horn and trumpet lead to a recapitulation of this theme which melts into …

Arr. Jacob De Haan. Par TRADITIONAL. Jacob de Haan arranged the famous piece Amazing Grace for four-part variable ensemble, which may be complemented with percussion. With this intrumentation, it is possible to play the piece with almost any combination of instruments. The piece opens with the song theme, which after a modulation, flows into an intermezzo, characterized by a free interpretation of…

Grimes David (Edtd And Comp). Par GRIMES DAVID. The studies of Mauro Giuliani (1781-1829) stand alongside those of Fernando Sor, Matteo Carcassi, Dionisio Aguado and Ferinando Carulli as the staples of the didactic pieces by the 'first generation' of classical guitarists. Giuliani was one of the most celebrated guitarists of his age, a brilliant performer and prolific composer. He left a legacy of…

Unlike some of his other late works, Franck's Violin Sonata (HN 293), composed in 1886, was well-received by the public and critics from the very start. The beautiful arrangement for cello published in January 1888 distinguishes itself from the numerous other arrangements in that Franck expressly authorised it. The cellist Jules Delsart, who had heard a performance of the sonata in Paris in Decemb…

Pierre Boulez wrote two pieces for solo violin, called 'Anthèmes' I and II. This is the first and shorter of the pair and was composed in 1991 for the Yehudi Menuhin Violin Competition. Taking inspiration from childhood memories of Catholic church services, Boulez created a piece of two distinct sonic worlds, in seven short parts, ending with a 'col legno battuto', characteristic of Boulez's witty…

Small Sacred Concertos II. Par SCHUTZ HEINRICH. The 'Kleine geistliche Konzerte' (Small Sacred Concertos), published in two parts in 1636 and1639, are among the best-known and well-loved compositions of Heinrich Schütz. Both parts constitute a collection of vocal pieces in a broad range of styles written for only a few voices with basso continuo. Most of the texts are in German, but some are also …

Par BACH JOHANN SEBASTIAN. Great Sacred Choruses is a selection of choruses from the great cantata and motet canon, which display how Johann Sebastian Bach's wonderful legacy of religious music is celebrated. It is arranged for a mixed voices (SATB) choir by Denis McCaldin. It offers an accessible introduction to the diversity of the composer's choral works, ranging from the well-known 'Jesu, joy …

Par DE HAAN JAN. Aggression, despair, but also hope for peace can be clearly heard within this work. In Banja Luka Jan de Haan reflects aspects of the former Yugoslavia, stricken by a civil war which brought terrible suffering to the people of this area. Banja Luka was written for the International Horn Festival in Leeuwarden in the Netherlands. / Niveau : 5 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Fa…

Oper in Funf Akten Version 1756. Par RAMEAU JEAN-PHILIPPE. Richer than ever ? Rameau?s ?Zoroastre? in the version of 1756. Opera in five acts. Rameau?s revised version of his opera ?Zoroastre?, which could be heard and seen between 20 January 1756 and 26 March 1757 at the Académie royale de musique, was favourably received. Also from today?s point of view the work profits dramaturgically from many…

Par SPARKE PHILIP. Suite from Hymn of the Highlands draws three expressive musical pictures of the Scottish highlands. The first movement, Ardross Castle, features solo passages for clarinet and bassoon and features a fascinating bagpipe melody. The second movement, Alladale, is a saxophone trio with an accompaniment featuring the percussion section. The final movement, Dundonnell, features two hi…