SKU: A0.861932

The American Seasons (cellos part – violin and string orchestra) MO148G

Cellos Part (score and parts available)

Music by Mark O’Connor

46 pages - 38:00 minutes in length

The American Seasons
(Seasons Of An American Life)

The American Seasons (Seasons Of An American Life) is a concerto for Violin And Chamber Orchestra. Composed in 1999, the music celebrates the various stages of an American life at the waking of the 21st century. Constructed in four movements and representing four stages of life, birth, adolescence, maturity and old age, the music also pays homage to Shakespeare's Seasons Of Man His acts being seven ages, incorporated throughout the work.

Spring introduces the ideas of birth and infancy. After the principal theme has been stated, there is a violin cadenza encountering all twelve major keys and a 13/8 time signature representing the ancient golden ratio. These elements recall birth with all the possibilities a new life offers. Ending the movement, the principal theme is repeated with more complexity... as if posing life's questions.

Summer represents the excitement and bravado of youthful adolescence and young adulthood. For the style of this movement I use a happy-go-lucky Blues voice which melds into Swing. I identify swing rhythm in all of 20th century American music culture as a common thread that runs through Ragtime through Rock and Roll on to Rap. Swing means testing the waters and pushing the envelope for lovers and soldiers.

Fall is the slow movement symbolizing the wisdom of maturity. It is a peaceful theme with nostalgic strokes. It is a time for sincere reflection and enjoying ones accomplishments in life.

Winter embodies the complexities and knowledge of an older person and that of a dying person. The movement begins with the principal them from Spring, but with a dissonance that emanates from a lifetime full of emotions and responsibilities. In the middle of the movement is a transition to an old world. I use my personal ancestry from Ireland as a foundation from which to rediscover one's lineage and explore the meaning and value of a cultural legacy.

The exploration evolves into a four- and five-part fugue with a reel, jig, air, countered bass and the motif from the principal theme. All these elements, dances and melodies appear simultaneously and converge to form a unique insight to life's consequences from a historical perspective. Following the fugue, the principal theme finds its way back in. It sounds much as it did at birth. In the end, the solo violin cadenza carries the last earthly breaths before the violin and orchestra once again join in harmony to focus on a new life being transformed somewhere else. Life's four seasons in perpetuity.

Original music printed from the composer’s manuscripts.

Music editing, copying and engraving by Mark O’Connor

using Finale on Apple Macintosh 1999

Composed by Mark O’Connor

Commissioned by the Troy Savings Bank Concert Hall for their 2000 Celebration

Can be heard on American Seasons Sony Classical and The Essential Mark O’Connor Sony Classical

Mark O’Connor - violin, Metamorphosen Chamber Orchestra, Scott Yoo

Catalogue Number MO148G

Copyright © 1999 by Mark O’Connor Music International

For more information on violinist and composer Mark O'Connor, O’Connor String Camps, Touring Ensembles, Discography, Bio, Repertoire and more, please visit

www.markoconnor.com

For information on the O’Connor Method – instructional.

SKU: A0.861933

The American Seasons (double basses part â€“ violin and string orchestra) MO148H

Double Basses Part (score and parts available)

Music by Mark O’Connor

40 pages - 38:00 minutes in length

The American Seasons
(Seasons Of An American Life)

The American Seasons (Seasons Of An American Life) is a concerto for Violin And Chamber Orchestra. Composed in 1999, the music celebrates the various stages of an American life at the waking of the 21st century. Constructed in four movements and representing four stages of life, birth, adolescence, maturity and old age, the music also pays homage to Shakespeare's Seasons Of Man His acts being seven ages, incorporated throughout the work.

Spring introduces the ideas of birth and infancy. After the principal theme has been stated, there is a violin cadenza encountering all twelve major keys and a 13/8 time signature representing the ancient golden ratio. These elements recall birth with all the possibilities a new life offers. Ending the movement, the principal theme is repeated with more complexity... as if posing life's questions.

Summer represents the excitement and bravado of youthful adolescence and young adulthood. For the style of this movement I use a happy-go-lucky Blues voice which melds into Swing. I identify swing rhythm in all of 20th century American music culture as a common thread that runs through Ragtime through Rock and Roll on to Rap. Swing means testing the waters and pushing the envelope for lovers and soldiers.

Fall is the slow movement symbolizing the wisdom of maturity. It is a peaceful theme with nostalgic strokes. It is a time for sincere reflection and enjoying ones accomplishments in life.

Winter embodies the complexities and knowledge of an older person and that of a dying person. The movement begins with the principal them from Spring, but with a dissonance that emanates from a lifetime full of emotions and responsibilities. In the middle of the movement is a transition to an old world. I use my personal ancestry from Ireland as a foundation from which to rediscover one's lineage and explore the meaning and value of a cultural legacy.

The exploration evolves into a four- and five-part fugue with a reel, jig, air, countered bass and the motif from the principal theme. All these elements, dances and melodies appear simultaneously and converge to form a unique insight to life's consequences from a historical perspective. Following the fugue, the principal theme finds its way back in. It sounds much as it did at birth. In the end, the solo violin cadenza carries the last earthly breaths before the violin and orchestra once again join in harmony to focus on a new life being transformed somewhere else. Life's four seasons in perpetuity.

Original music printed from the composer’s manuscripts.

Music editing, copying and engraving by Mark O’Connor

using Finale on Apple Macintosh 1999

Composed by Mark O’Connor

Commissioned by the Troy Savings Bank Concert Hall for their 2000 Celebration

Can be heard on American Seasons Sony Classical and The Essential Mark O’Connor Sony Classical

Mark O’Connor - violin, Metamorphosen Chamber Orchestra, Scott Yoo

Catalogue Number MO148H

Copyright © 1999 by Mark O’Connor Music International

For more information on violinist and composer Mark O'Connor, O’Connor String Camps, Touring Ensembles, Discography, Bio, Repertoire and more, please visit

www.markoconnor.com

For information on the O’Connor Me.

SKU: A0.861931

The American Seasons (violas part – violin and string orchestra) MO148F

Violas Part (score and parts available)

Music by Mark O’Connor

42 pages - 38:00 minutes in length

The American Seasons
(Seasons Of An American Life)

The American Seasons (Seasons Of An American Life) is a concerto for Violin And Chamber Orchestra. Composed in 1999, the music celebrates the various stages of an American life at the waking of the 21st century. Constructed in four movements and representing four stages of life, birth, adolescence, maturity and old age, the music also pays homage to Shakespeare's Seasons Of Man His acts being seven ages, incorporated throughout the work.

Spring introduces the ideas of birth and infancy. After the principal theme has been stated, there is a violin cadenza encountering all twelve major keys and a 13/8 time signature representing the ancient golden ratio. These elements recall birth with all the possibilities a new life offers. Ending the movement, the principal theme is repeated with more complexity... as if posing life's questions.

Summer represents the excitement and bravado of youthful adolescence and young adulthood. For the style of this movement I use a happy-go-lucky Blues voice which melds into Swing. I identify swing rhythm in all of 20th century American music culture as a common thread that runs through Ragtime through Rock and Roll on to Rap. Swing means testing the waters and pushing the envelope for lovers and soldiers.

Fall is the slow movement symbolizing the wisdom of maturity. It is a peaceful theme with nostalgic strokes. It is a time for sincere reflection and enjoying ones accomplishments in life.

Winter embodies the complexities and knowledge of an older person and that of a dying person. The movement begins with the principal them from Spring, but with a dissonance that emanates from a lifetime full of emotions and responsibilities. In the middle of the movement is a transition to an old world. I use my personal ancestry from Ireland as a foundation from which to rediscover one's lineage and explore the meaning and value of a cultural legacy.

The exploration evolves into a four- and five-part fugue with a reel, jig, air, countered bass and the motif from the principal theme. All these elements, dances and melodies appear simultaneously and converge to form a unique insight to life's consequences from a historical perspective. Following the fugue, the principal theme finds its way back in. It sounds much as it did at birth. In the end, the solo violin cadenza carries the last earthly breaths before the violin and orchestra once again join in harmony to focus on a new life being transformed somewhere else. Life's four seasons in perpetuity.

Original music printed from the composer’s manuscripts.

Music editing, copying and engraving by Mark O’Connor

using Finale on Apple Macintosh 1999

Composed by Mark O’Connor

Commissioned by the Troy Savings Bank Concert Hall for their 2000 Celebration

Can be heard on American Seasons Sony Classical and The Essential Mark O’Connor Sony Classical

Mark O’Connor - violin, Metamorphosen Chamber Orchestra, Scott Yoo

Catalogue Number MO148F

Copyright © 1999 by Mark O’Connor Music International

For more information on violinist and composer Mark O'Connor, O’Connor String Camps, Touring Ensembles, Discography, Bio, Repertoire and more, please visit

www.markoconnor.com

For information on the O’Connor Method – instructional book series for violin, viola, cello and school string orchestra programs:

SKU: A0.546025

Antonio Vivaldi Winter from The Four Seasons for strings orchestra. Sheet music download score and all individual parts. Antonio Vivaldi Winter aus Die vier Jahreszeiten für Streich Orchester. Noten Download Partitur und alle Einzelstimmen.

SKU: A0.1320905

String ensemble arrangement of Tchaikovsky’s  October (Autumn Song)  from The piano collection The Seasons   Op. 37a. 
Score, Set of Parts. 11 pages.

October (Autumn Song) depicts an autumn scene from the piano collection The Four Seasons, Op. 37a. The Four Seasons (originally titled Les Saisons) is known as a collection of 12 piano pieces, one for each month, depicting the customs of the Russian year. To me, as the arranger, it seems to strongly reflect scenes from the composer's own homeland, Ukraine.

Tchaikovsky's Ukrainian roots are not surprising. Tchaikovsky's surname was changed from Chaika (Чайка: a traditional Ukrainian surname meaning seagull) by his grandfather, and his family originated from the Chaika family of Ukrainian Cossacks who had a territory in what is now Poltava Oblast.

SKU: A0.1370819

String ensemble arrangement of Tchaikovsky’s Februrary (Carnival)
 from The piano collection The Seasons   Op. 37a. 
Score, Set of Parts. 20 pages.

February (Carnival) is a winter scene from the piano collection The Four Seasons, Op. 37a. The piano collection The Four Seasons (originally titled Les Saisons) is known as a collection of 12 piano pieces, one for each month, depicting the customs of the Russian year. To me, as the arranger, it seems to strongly reflect scenes from the composer's own homeland, Ukraine.

Tchaikovsky's Ukrainian roots are not surprising. Tchaikovsky's surname was changed from Chaika (Чайка: a traditional Ukrainian surname meaning seagull) by his grandfather, and his family originated from the Chaika family of Ukrainian Cossacks who had a territory in what is now Poltava Oblast.

SKU: A0.1191148

July (Song of the Reapers) is an intact depiction of a summer farming scene in the piano collection The Four Seasons, Op 37a. The piano collection The Four Seasons (originally titled Les Saisons) is known as a collection of 12 piano pieces, one for each month, depicting the customs of the Russian year. To me, as the arranger, it seems to strongly reflect scenes from the composer's own homeland, Ukraine.

Tchaikovsky's Ukrainian roots are not surprising. Tchaikovsky's surname was changed from Chaika (Чайка: a traditional Ukrainian surname meaning seagull) by his grandfather, and his family originated from the Chaika family of Ukrainian Cossacks who had a territory in what is now Poltava Oblast.

SKU: A0.1295756

September (Hunter's Song). The sound of hunting horns powerfully describes the scene of autumn hunting.

The piano collection The Four Seasons (originally titled Les Saisons) is known as a collection of 12 piano pieces, one for each month, depicting the customs of the Russian year. To me, as the arranger, it seems to strongly reflect scenes from the composer's own homeland, Ukraine.

Tchaikovsky's Ukrainian roots are not surprising. Tchaikovsky's surname was changed from Chaika (Чайка: a traditional Ukrainian surname meaning seagull) by his grandfather, and his family originated from the Chaika family of Ukrainian Cossacks who had a territory in what is now Poltava Oblast.

SKU: A0.1241723

This short version of the famous Hallelujah Chorus is adpted for children's orchestra, but is suitable for beginner strings of any age. The 3rd violin and bass parts are suitable for children who have been learning a just couple of terms and the piano part is also easy enough for a child to play after a couple of year's lessons. The optional timps part is intended for a visiting adult, but similarly an older child would have no difficulty. The viola part is slightly harder because players are often later starters (and vioists are the most intelligent players!), but the 3rd violin part can be put into alto on request. All of the work is in 1st postion but there is plenty to challenge the players with counting and dynamics.

SKU: AX.76-PR-0000029

UPC: 038081327198.

This piece contains excellent lessons in baroque articulation and bowing styles. Be sure to instruct your ensemble to play detached sixteenth notes and short martelA(c) quarter notes. The first violin part includes many string crossing sections, which all sit very well under the fingers. The lower parts are quite challenging, and should always be played with a slightly lifted feel (never heavy) to capture the correct continuo style.