SKU: A0.549629

Duration: ca. 3:20 Score: 13 pages, solo part: 3 pages, piano part: 7 pages, 182 measures in 2/4. Overture in Miniature to Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite. Program for a recital, church meditation, school plays, and Christmas presentations of all kinds.

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Tchaikovsky is probably the most popular of the great composers in America. His music certainly appeals to musicians. Likewise, it appeals even to folks who don’t normally listen to serious music. This is probably because of his most noteworthy melodies. Above all, he writes with great emotion. This certainly makes a most noteworthy if not an unforgettable impact.

Education

First of all, He attended classes at the Russian Musical Society. Even more, He also attended the St. Petersburg Conservatory. There he studied music theory with Nikolai Zaremba. He also consequently studied composition with Anton Rubenstein. It seems like Rubenstein came under criticism from a group of Russian composers known as the Five.

The Five

The Five certainly rejected Western musical influences. They rather sought to use elements from Russian music. They furthermore wanted to use more exotic musical materials.

Western Techniques

More than other Russian composers, Tchaikovsky studied modern Western music. He certainly develops his music like the European masters. So, rather than repeating a motive, he moves to a new key. He then introduces a different theme in the new key. Hence, he maintained his independence from the Five. Even more, he became the first Russian composer of international stature.

Influences

Tchaikovsky was probably influenced in his ballet scoring by Léo Delibes. Richard Wagner influenced his symphonic writing. Tchaikovsky’s most famous works include the 1812 Overture, The Nutcracker Suite, and Swan Lake. Also famous are the Violin Concerto in D and the six symphonies. The greatest of the six symphonies may be No. 6, the Pathétique.

Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a

The Nutcracker Suite is a ballet that was performed for the first time in December 1892 in St. Petersburg. To begin with, the original ballet failed to attract a positive reception. However, the ballet suite became probably one of the most popular of all of Tchaikovsky’s works. The ballet suite became even more famous in the 1960s. It is now performed all over the world, particularly during the Christmas season. 

SKU: A0.1310493

This ever-popular piece is often performed at weddings, funerals and many other solemn ceremonial events. It has always been a favorite among instrumental players and often used in recitals or concert encores. This arrangement by Colin Kirkpatrick is ideal for the intermediate trumpet or cornet player. It is in concert C and the transposed trumpet range is from A below the treble staff to F sharp on the top line. 

In 1853, the well-known French composer Charles Gounod added his own melody over a rippling keyboard accompaniment which was a slightly adapted version of the Prelude No. 1 in C major, BWV846, from Book I of J. S. Bach's The Well-Tempered Clavier, published in 1722. The title of the “combined� piece was Méditation sur le Premier Prélude de Piano de S. Bach. Gounod’s original arrangement transposed Bach’s keyboard part from C major into F major and it was scored for violin (or cello), organ and piano. In 1859, the French music publishing company Jacques-Léopold Heugel brought out a vocal version based on the familiar Latin text. Ave Maria (Hail Mary) is a traditional Catholic prayer addressed to the Virgin Mary.

The version of Bach's prelude which Gounod used included the so-called Schwencke measure (m. 27 in this arrangement), a measure (bar) allegedly added by the German composer and pianist Christian Friedrich Gottlieb Schwencke (1767-1822) in an attempt to correct what was considered a harmonic weakness in the original. Whether there actually was a “harmonic weakness� (or possibly an error in the manuscript) remains a matter of conjecture but the fact remains that the most familiar-sounding version of this piece, recorded countless times by both singers and instrumentalists includes this Schwencke measure. It is therefore included in this arrangement.

Some published arrangements show minor inconsistencies in the rhythm of the melody. This arrangement uses the familiar rhythm of the Ave Maria version as it appeared in the 1859 edition.

SKU: A0.1021080

Three dances in a Baroque-renaissance style.  Level 2.5-3.

SKU: A0.1288372

Acquire the sheet music now for the renowned arrangement of Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring by Johann Sebastian Bach, specially adapted for Bb trumpet with piano or organ accompaniment.

Johann Sebastian Bach, one of the most celebrated composers of the Baroque period, dedicated his life to crafting works that remain synonymous with sophistication and mastery in the classical music world today. His unparalleled skill in weaving intricate counterpoints and emotive harmonies made him a legend, and his compositions continue to be revered and studied by musicians and enthusiasts globally.

Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring is one of Bach's most cherished and recognized pieces. With this arrangement, you can experience the beauty of this composition in a fresh and unique way, melding the distinct sound of the Bb trumpet with the rich accompaniment of the piano or organ.

Ideal for performances at recitals, religious ceremonies, or simply for the joy of playing at home, this sheet music is a valuable addition to any repertoire. Don't miss the opportunity to dive into Bach's genius and bring this timeless masterpiece to life! Purchase your sheet music now and feel the joy of playing one of the most beautiful compositions in music history.

SKU: A0.973263

Glory of the West was commissioned by Dr. Zach Buie and premiered at the College of Southern Idaho on March 3, 2020.  Dr. Buie requested a new work connected with or inspired by the Mountain West region.  The inspiration for this piece was the song MONTANA, which I first heard at a memorial service, a great favorite of the gentleman who had passed.  The song was composed in 1910 and later adopted as Montana's state song.  Glory of the West is in three sections.  The first, marked Rolling Along, conveys optimism and wide-open spaces.  The middle Adagio section features a descending stepwise melody followed by a soaring ascending line, reminiscent of melodic contours in the refrain of the song.  The final section, marked Playfully, begins with fragments of a lively and rhythmically irregular motive, and woven throughout are echoes of the ascending lines from the previous section.  The score contains the Piano and C Trumpet parts in concert pitch, and a part for B-flat Trumpet is provided as an alternate.