Instrumental Duet Bassoon,Instrumental Duet - Level 2 - Digital Download SKU: A0.549433 Composed by Antonin Dvorak. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Instructional,Romantic Period,Sacred,Standards. Score and parts. 12 pages. Jmsgu3 #3494213. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.549433). Score: 7 pages, solo part: 2 pages, piano part: 3 pages. Duration: 4:25. Not difficult, but requires sensitivity & dynamic c control. Suitable for recitals, church meditations, or school programs. Dvořák Background Antonín Dvořák (1841 –1904) was, of course, a composer from Czechoslovakia. As a matter of fact, he was among the first Bohemian composers to attain universal recognition. It is important to realize that the late Romantic Nationalist period featured composers who used traditional and folk elements to portray the character of their nation. In particular, we see this in the music of Grieg (Norway), Finland (Sibelius), and Smetana (Bohemia).  Dvořák relied markedly on rhythms and other characteristics of Moravian and Bohemian folk music. Ascent to Fame Dvořák was truly a child musical prodigy on the violin. The premiere performances of his compositions notably occurred in 1872 and 1873. He submitted his First Symphony in particular to a German competition, but it failed to win. Consequently, in 1874 he presented two more symphonies to the Austrian State Prize for Composition. Johannes Brahms was the principal of the jury and was accordingly very impressed. They forthwith awarded the prize to Dvořák in 1874, 1876, and 1877. At this point, Brahms thereupon endorsed Dvořák to the publisher Simrock. Later, the publisher commissioned Dvořák to compose the Slavonic Dances, Op. 46. These became popular overnight and, as a result, Dvořák's worldwide status was launched. International Status Dvořák visited England upon invitation nine times. On each visit, he frequently conducted performances of his own compositions. He conducted concerts of his music, especially in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Eventually, the Prague Conservatory in fact appointed Dvořák as a professor. There, to be sure, he wrote his famous Dumky Trio. United States Consequently, the National Conservatory of Music of America appointed him as director in 1892. As a result, Dvořák composed his two most famous symphonic works: the Symphony No. 9 (From the New World), which spread his name universally, and his Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, one of the most famous of all cello works. Moreover, he wrote his most celebrated American String Quartet during this time. At the same time, because of his growing recognition in Europe and his homesickness for his own country, he left to return to Bohemia in 1895.  

Bassoon,Instrumental Duet - Level 1 - Digital Download SKU: A0.548694 Composed by Franz Schubert. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Christmas,Easter,Standards. 4 pages. Jmsgu3 #3411135. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.548694). A Bassoon Christmas/Easter classic! Duration: 4:55 Score: 3 pg. Bassoon part: 1 pg. Piano reads from the score. Schubert seems to have composed this piece as a song-setting. This is because he wanted to portray a poignant emotional event from a poem. The poem was Walter Scott's The Lady of the Lake. Consequently, this song became an integral part of Schubert's Song cycle. Therefore the cycle is called: the Lady of the Lake. In the poem, Ellen Douglas is the Lady of the Lake. The lake is probably Loch Katrine in the Scottish Highlands. First of all, Ellen goes with her father to stay in the Goblin's cave. They go because he earlier refused to join in a rebellion against King James. Roderick Dhu, the chief of the rebellious Alpine Clan, marches up the mountain with his army. But before the battle, he, first of all, hears Ellen singing. She is singing a prayer calling for help from the Virgin Mary. Schubert's piece was first performed at the castle of Countess Sophie Weissenwolff in Steyregg, Austria.  Schubert dedicated the arrangement to her, and as a result, she became famous as the lady of the lake.The incipit of Ellen's song is Ave Maria which is Latin for Hail Mary. It seems like this similarity led Schubert to adapt the melody to accommodate the Roman Catholic prayer Ave Maria. Consequently, the Latin version of Ave Maria finally became more famous than the original so that consequently many believe he wrote the Latin version first. Schubert Franz Schubert (1797–1828) was, in fact, a famous Austrian composer. Moreover, he composed during the late Classical and early Romantic periods. Schubert was comparatively prolific. He wrote more than 600 secular vocal works, seven symphonies, and, correspondingly, a massive amount of piano and chamber music. Critics agree, as a matter of fact, that his most famous works include his Piano Quintet in A major, D. 667 (also known as the Trout Quintet), the Symphony No. 8 in B minor, D. 759 (Unfinished Symphony), the last sonatas for piano (D. 958–960), and the song cycles Die schöne Müllerin (D. 795) and Winterreise (D. 911). Education Schubert was furthermore a musical child prodigy. He studied violin with his father as well as piano with his older brother. In addition, when Schubert was eleven he studied at Stadtkonvikt school, where he became familiar with the orchestral music of Haydn, Mozart, and likewise Beethoven. In due time he left school and returned home where he studied to become an educator; nevertheless, he continued studying composition with Antonio Salieri. Performance Eventually, Schubert was admitted to the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde as a performer. This appointment straightaway established his name in Vienna as a composer and pianist. Finally, he gave his only composition recital in 1828. He died suddenly a few months later probably due to typhoid fever. Legacy Schubert’s music was by and large underappreciated while he was alive. There were all in all only a few enthusiasts in Vienna. After he died, however, interest in his work in fact increased. Felix Mendelssohn, Robert Schumann, Franz Liszt, Johannes Brahms and other famous composers in due time discovered his compositions. Nowadays, historians rank Schubert expressly among the greatest composers of the era, and his music remains in general very popular.

Instrumental Duet Bassoon,Instrumental Duet - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.552407 Composed by Leo Delibes (1836-1891). Arranged by James M. Guthrie. Holiday,Romantic Period,Standards,Wedding. Score and parts. 7 pages. Jmsgu3 #6342571. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.552407). Duo of the flowers from Lakme, Act I. A popular wedding selection.Leo Delibes (1836-1891) was a French composer of the Romantic period best known for his ballets and operas. He was a child prodigy and began composing music at the age of seven. He studied at the Paris Conservatoire, where he developed a mastery of the symphonic form and wrote several pieces for the orchestra. His works for the stage are among the most popular and beloved of the Romantic era, including the ballets Coppélia and Sylvia, and the opera Lakmé.Delibes was a pioneer in the use of orchestral color and instrumental effects to enhance the dramatic narrative of his works. His works are often praised for their lyricism, graceful melodies, and colorful orchestrations. His music is considered to be a bridge between the grandiose and romantic works of the French composers before him, such as Gounod and Berlioz, and the more intimate and melodic style of composers like Debussy and Ravel.Delibes’ influence can be heard in the works of later composers such as Stravinsky and Prokofiev, and his music continues to be performed and enjoyed today. His contributions to music history are significant, and his works remain beloved masterpieces of the Romantic era.Léo Delibes' opera Lakmé is an opera in three acts. It was first performed in 1883 at the Théâtre Lyrique in Paris. The libretto was written by Edmond Gondinet and Philippe Gille. The story is set in British-occupied India and tells the story of a young Indian girl, Lakmé, who is in love with a British officer, Gerald. The story follows the couple's romantic journey, as well as the obstacles they face from Lakmé's father and the British military. The opera is best known for its beautiful score, which includes the famous aria The Flower Duet as well as the duet Lakmé! The Bell Song. The opera has been performed in opera houses all over the world and is considered one of Delibes' most popular works.The Duo des Fleurs, composed by French composer Léo Delibes, is a ballet pas de deux from the ballet Lakme, Act I. It is a beloved masterpiece of the Romantic period and is often performed as a standalone piece in many ballet performances. The piece is typically danced by two female ballet dancers and is known for its playful and lighthearted nature. The music consists of a melody that alternates between the two dancers and is often accompanied by a lighthearted waltz. The music has a strong sense of unity and connection between the two dancers, which is enhanced by the use of the same melody. The piece also features a beautiful soaring coda that gives it a sense of grandeur and beauty. The Duo des Fleurs is an exquisite piece of music and an enduring classic of the ballet repertoire.