SKU: A0.549488

Score: 11 pages, solo part: 3 pages, piano part: 5 pages. Duration: 4:20. This is a popular recital piece that would work well also in church or school programs.

Mendelssohn Background

Felix Mendelssohn (1809 –1847) was, by all means, a German mastermind composer, musician, and orchestra conductor of the Romantic period. Consequently, Mendelssohn composed in the usual forms of the time - symphonies, concertos, oratorios, piano music, and chamber music. To summarize, his most famous works include his music for A Midsummer Night's Dream, the Italian Symphony, the Scottish Symphony, The Hebrides Overture, his later Concerto for Violin & Orchestra, and his Octet for Strings. His most well-known piano pieces, by and large, are the Songs Without Words. 

Artistic Standing

 Musical tastes change from time to time. Moreover, just such a change occurred in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This plus rampant antisemitism brought a corresponding amount of undue criticism. Fortunately, however, his artistic inventiveness has indeed been critically re-evaluated. As a result, Mendelssohn is once again among the most prevalent composers of the Romantic era.

Early Family Life

Mendelssohn was, in fact, born into a prominent Jewish family. His grandfather was, notably, the philosopher Moses Mendelssohn. Felix was, in fact, raised without religion. At the age of seven, he was suddenly baptized as a Reformed Christian. He was, moreover, a child musical prodigy. Nevertheless, his parents did not attempt to exploit his talent.

Early Adulthood

Mendelssohn was, in general, successful in Germany. He conducted, in particular, a revival of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, specifically with his presentation of the St Matthew Passion in 1829. Felix was truly in demand throughout Europe as a composer, conductor, and soloist. For example, he visited Britain ten times. There, he premiered, namely, many of his significant works. His taste in music was. To be sure, inventive and well-crafted yet markedly conservative. This conservatism separated him by all means from more audacious musical colleagues like Liszt, Wagner, and Berlioz. Mendelssohn founded the Leipzig Conservatoire which, to clarify, became a defender of this conservative viewpoint.

Mature Adulthood

Schumann notably wrote that Mendelssohn was the Mozart of the nineteenth century, the most brilliant musician, the one who most clearly sees through the contradictions of the age and for the first time reconciles them. This observation points to a couple of features in particular that illustrate Mendelssohn's works and his artistic procedure.

Musical Features

In the first place, his musical style was fixed in his systematic mastery of the style of preceding masters. This being said, he certainly recognized and even developed early romanticism from the music of Beethoven and Weber. Secondly, it indicates that Mendelssohn sought to strengthen his inherited musical legacy rather than to exchange it with new forms and styles or replace it with exotic orchestration. Consequently, he diverged his contemporaries in the romantic period, such as Wagner, Berlioz, and Liszt. Mendelssohn revered Liszt's virtuosity at the keyboard but found his music rather insubstantial.

SKU: A0.1118307

Scott Joplin is celebrated as the United States’ first well-known black composer, making his name as a writer of piano rags. His life was a constant struggle with adversity, and Joplin died relatively young in 1917, at the dawn of the recording age. Few remembered Joplin’s music until a revival in the 1970s brought The Entertainer and others to the world’s attention. Nowadays Scott Joplin has taken his rightful place in the gallery of great American composers.

The Rags included in this collection are, The Entertainer, The Maple Leaf Rag, The Easy Winners, The Elite Syncopations and The Favorite.

They have been arranged as solos for one Oboe with piano accompaniment, and include all sections of the original compositions. You will download one pdf file that contains both 22 pages of piano score and the 10 page solo part. These pieces are suitable for players at an intermediate and advanced intermediate level. Musicians will find these Ragtime solos ideal for formal and informal performances, light and fun, yet still a serious and vitally important part of the American musical heritage. The overall performance time for all five is around 25 minutes.

Teachers will enjoy using these arrangements as a fun way to help with phrasing, syncopated rhythms and light articulation. 

Click on the YouTube link to see and hear samples from the collection. There are many more top quality arrangements and compositions by David McKeown for you to browse at http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/publishers/david-mckeown/6203

SKU: A0.837511

An Avaloch Divertimento was begun-in fact the first two movements were completed-at the Avaloch Farm Music Institute in New Hampshire. Avaloch or Abhlach, is from the old Irish word meaning, place of the apple trees. The sacred Isle of the Apple Trees, Avalon-where Arthur, King of the Britons, was taken to be healed of his dreadful wounds-takes its name from this ancient word. Avaloch Farm Music Institute (AFMI) in New Hampshire is also a magical place where chamber music groups come to work and create in an atmosphere free from the distractions of everyday life. In the summer of 2021 I had the pleasure and honor of being a resident of AFMI along with Areli Mendoza-Pannone, Robert Frazier, and Mark Evans as we work-shopped my song cycle, Quarry Songs. Areli, Bobby, and Mark had to go back to the real world half way through the residency, leaving me at AFMI to begin work on An Avaloch Divertimento.

The first movement is an Aubade, which are traditionally morning love songs-as opposed to evening love songs or serenades. In the seventeenth century aubades became associated with instrumental works depicting sunrises. It is this sense of the word that is used here, complete with a bird-song oboe cadenza.

Pippin takes its name from a variety of apple. While at AFMI I would take afternoon walks through the nearby apple orchard to beautiful Walker Pond. It was on one of these walks that I came up with the first draft of the tune used in the central fughetta of the movement. The word, pippin is also included in Carolyn Forché’s poem, The Museum of Stones, which I had set as the final movement of Quarry Songs.

The final movement, Amhrán, means song in Irish and is a simple song form with three interwoven themes that emulate the Irish Bodhran (frame drum), fiddle, and singer.

Many thanks to Board Chair, Alfred Tauber, Artistic Director, Deborah Sherr, and Operations Director, Hannah Landes and the whole AFMI staff for creating such a wonderful refuge for musicians to work, learn, and create.

Learn about Avaloch Farm Music Institute at www.avalochfarmmusic.org.

Learn about more compositions by Brett L. Wery at www.BRETTLWERY.com.

Duration: 12 minutes

SKU: A0.1231063

Step into the world of romance and passion with A Time for Us by Nino Rota, from the Paramount Picture Romeo and Juliet. This iconic piece is a masterpiece of its time, and its haunting melody has the power to move anyone who hears it.

With our PDF sheet music, you can easily learn and play this unforgettable piece in the comfort of your own home. The delicate interplay of melody and harmony in A Time for Us creates a truly emotional experience that will leave you breathless.

As you play the notes and immerse yourself in the music, you'll feel as though you're transported to a different time and place, where love and heartbreak intertwine. This piece captures the essence of true love and its many complexities, and you'll find yourself lost in its beauty and intensity.

Our carefully transcribed and edited PDF sheet music ensures that you're playing with accuracy and confidence, bringing to life the emotions that intended to convey. Whether you're an experienced musician or just starting out, this piece is accessible yet deeply rewarding to play.

A Time for Us is a timeless classic that will never go out of style. So, whether you're looking to impress someone special or simply indulge in your love of music, download our PDF sheet music today and let the emotional journey begin.

SKU: A0.549386

Duration: 4:55, Score: 6 pages, Solo part: 1 page, piano part: 2 pages. A very famous aria (Ombra mai fu) from Xerxes
Suitable for any venue requiring meditative music. Excellent choice for a recital encore.

Xerxes

Xerxes is, in fact, an opera seria in three acts by Handel. Moreover, Handel conducted the premiere performance in London in 1738. Handel casts the opera in Persia in 470 BC. The part of Xerxes was indeed originally sung by a soprano castrato. Nowadays, the part is generally sung by a mezzo-soprano or conversely a counter-tenor. In the first place, Xerxes sings an opening aria, Ombra mai fu to a plane tree. Handel sets this aria to one of his most truly famous melodies. Although many refer to it traditionally as Handel’s Largo, Handel has, on the contrary, clearly marked Larghetto in the score.

Handel Background

George Frideric Handel (1685 - 1759) was born in Germany but eventually became a British citizen. Nonetheless, he was a famous Baroque composer. In fact, he became famous for his operas, oratorios, anthems, and organ concertos. Handel studied music and, by and large, worked as a composer in Germany and Italy before moving to London. On the whole, Handel was very familiar with the contemporary music of Italy and Germany.

Career in England

It is essential to realize that Italian opera was all the rage in England at the time. Moreover, Handel was really good at writing them. Therefore, he started not one but three opera companies in England. Alexander's Feast was a huge success in 1736, but Handel began composing English choral works. After success with the Messiah in 1742) he certainly never again wrote an Italian opera.

Consequently, he died in 1759, a treasured genius. Accordingly, the English government gave him full state honors at his funeral. Hence, he is buried in Westminster Abbey in London.

Legacy

Music historians agree that Handel was in general one of the greatest composers of the Baroque era.  To demonstrate, his works such as the Messiah, Water Music, and Music for the Royal Fireworks remain consistently popular up to the present time. He especially composed the coronation anthem, Zadok the Priest for the coronation of George II. Nevertheless, it has specifically been performed at every succeeding British coronation since. His oratorio Solomon has by all means also continued to be prevalent. As a matter of fact, Sinfonia from act 3 was featured in the 2012 London Olympics opening ceremony. Handel was particularly prolific. To enumerate, he wrote over forty operas.  Since the late 1960s, we have expressly experienced a revival of baroque music. Similarly, we have especially seen a pique of interest in historically informed musical performances. Since his death in 1779, interest in Handel's music has all in all, expanded.

 

SKU: A0.548478

Traditional Christmas song arranged for Oboe & Piano. Third verse features new harmony. Score: 2 pg. Part: 1 pg.

Away in a Manger

Away in a Manger is a popular Christmas song published originally sometime in the later 19th century and performed throughout the world. In England, it is considered one of the two most popular carols of all time; a 1996 poll ranked it as a tie for second place. To begin with, many thought it was written by Martin Luther, but now the song is considered to be absolutely American. The most common musical arrangements are by William Kirkpatrick (1895) and James R. Murray (1887). The melody was first published, as Luther's Cradle Hymn, by James R. Murray. Then, came a confusing series of explanations about how Martin Luther wrote the song. Murray even went so far as to suggest that Luther wrote it for his children. As a result, the song has become known as simply Mueller. Nobody knows who this Mueller actually is, but the name stuck.

Popularity

By the 1880’s the cradle song was being performed in church. By the 1990’s the song was becoming the most popular Christmas song of all time. It was sung in school, in church, and at home by nearly everyone.

Other musical settings

The first musical setting published with the lyrics appeared in the Little Children's Book for Schools and Families (1885). The title was Away in a Manger. This edition is the first one not to attribute the song to Martin Luther.

Charles H. Gabriel was the first arranger to present the third verse. He also composed and published a large number of different arrangements of the song. In one of his settings, he supplies a chorus for each verse with asleep sung in canon. Another prevalent preparation uses the lyrics to the melody Flow Gently, Sweet Afton. Yet another arrangement dating uses the lyrics to an old Normandy Carol.  Register for free lifetime updates and revisions of this product at www.jamesguthrie.com

SKU: A0.1276462

The Three Romances for Oboe and Piano, Op. 94 (German: Drei Romanzen) is a composition by Robert Schumann, his only composition for oboe. It was composed in December 1849. The work consists of three short pieces in A-B-A form, and it was written during what was speculated to be one of Schumann's manic episodes.

An average full performance lasts roughly 12 minutes.

The Romances were written in December 1849, one of the most productive years of Schumann's entire career. Previously that year, Schumann had written two other works for wind instruments and piano: the Adagio and Allegro, op. 70, for French Horn and piano, and the Fantasy Pieces for Clarinet and Piano, op. 73. According to Schumann himself, the pieces were written on December 7, 11, and 12th in Dresden., Unlike many other oboes, works at the time, the pieces were not the result of a commission by a prominent soloist of the day. Schumann gave the pieces to his wife Clara Schumann, whom he once described as his own right hand, as a Christmas present, calling them his hundredth opusculum. Schumann's mental health was quickly deteriorating during the time of the pieces' writing; shortly afterward, he moved from Dresden to Düsseldorf, where he was admitted to and eventually died in an asylum.

On November 2, 1850, the pieces were first performed privately as a piano and violin piece with Clara Schumann on piano and François Schubert on violin. The works were first performed several years after Schumann's death, in 1863; the performances took place on January 24 and February 14 in the Gewandhaus, featuring Emilius Lund on oboe and Carl Reinecke on piano.

The piece was dedicated to Wilhelm Joseph von Wasielewski. The original edition was published by N. Simrock. The publication date is unknown, but it is estimated to have been anywhere from December 1850 to February 1851. Nikolaus Simrock wrote a letter to Schumann on November 19, 1850, asking whether or not Schumann would agree if we were to print on the title page: 'for oboe and pianoforte' and on this with a violin 'for violin and pianoforte' and on the third 'for clarinet and pianoforte,' since it is not looked upon with favor when several instruments appear on the title page. However, Schumann denied the request, replying, If I had originally written the work for violin or clarinet, it would have become a completely different piece. I regret not being able to comply with your wishes, but I can do no other. Two copies of the original printing exist Schumann's copy and Wasielewski's dedication copy (both either in museums or private collections).

Disobeying Schumann's wishes, Simrock published alternate violin and oboe parts in the first edition. In her compilation of Robert's works post-mortem, Clara only included the violin transcription, possibly due to her only playing the piece with violinists. There have been several recordings of the music, including a recent one along with other Schumann oboe works by Oboe Classics. The romances are now a standard part of the oboe repertoire and often considered the best piece of romantic repertoire for the oboe.

SKU: A0.549726

Duration: ca. 7:00, Score: 12 pages, solo part: 2 pages, piano: 7 pages. An epic choice for a recital or funeral.Fauré Background: In the first place, Gabriel Fauré 1845 –1924) was a famous French composer, musician, and educator. Furthermore, his musical ideas influenced numerous 20th-century composers. Therefore, historians regard him as one of the leading French composers of his time. Famous Works: Among his most famous compositions, by and large, are the Pavane, Elegie (op. 24), Requiem, Sicilienne, Nocturnes for piano and the songs Après un rêve and Clair de lune. Inasmuch as his early works are well-known and relatively easy to perform, Faure’s music seems to have become gradually more difficult during his later life. In other words, his later works are somewhat esoteric and complex. Early Home Life: Fauré was in fact born into a well-cultivated family. His aptitude for music became particularly clear early on - when he was still a boy. Under these circumstances, his parents sent him to a music institution in Paris. Consequently, the training he received there prepared him for a career as a church organist and choirmaster. Middle Life: It is important to realize that Fauré studied music composition with the French musical mastermind Camille Saint-Saëns, who became his lifelong friend. Fauré eventually graduated from college and earned a living as an organist and educator. During this period, he had, on the whole, little time to compose. He consequently became more successful in his middle age, becoming organist of the Église de la Madeleine and director of the Paris Conservatoire. However, he still needed time on balance for composing. Therefore, given these points, he withdrew to the countryside during the summer to focus on composing. Later Life: Fauré was, in the final analysis, recognized in France as the foremost French composer of his time. The French government held a national musical tribute particularly for him in Paris. The French President notably headed the ceremony. Elsewhere, on the contrary, Fauré's music was slow to become accepted, except of course, in England. Legacy: Historians often describe Fauré's music in general as a transition between the end of Romanticism and the beginning of modernism. As an illustration, when Fauré was born, Chopin was still composing. However, by the time of Fauré's death, jazz and atonal music, in particular, had come to fruition. Fauré, by all means, suffered from increasing deafness in his later years. Some musicologists believe this to be indeed the cause of the esoteric nature of Faure’s final works.

SKU: A0.1264909

A piece about a rather delightful possum for wind quintet and piano. The possum is an Australian native animal. It is a nocturnal animal that has adapted well to city life, being quite happy living in the roofs of houses. This piece represents the possum creeping about at night time looking for food. It is inspired by an experience I had with a baby possum one night, when I woke up to the strings on my grand piano being played. The young possum had come down my chimney and was looking for an escape from the rain. It was also fairly unhappy with being placed outside again.

SKU: A0.549933

A classic selection of epic proportions. Score: 75 pages, Solo part: 16 pages, 924 measures. Duration: 34:30

Pictures at an Exhibition (Картинки � вы�тавки) by Modest Petrovi� Musorgskij, 1874 (Моде�т Петрович Му�орг�кий)

Promenade 1  Allegro giusto, nel modo russico; senza allegrezza, ma poco sostenuto    page 1

1. GNOMUS (The Gnome)  Sempre vivo page 4

Promenade 2  Moderato commodo assai e con delicatezza page 10

 2. IL VECCHIO CASTELLO (The Old Castle) Andante molto cantabile e con dolore page 12

 Promenade 3 Moderato non tanto, pesamente page 18

 3. TUILLERIES Dispute d'enfants après jeux (Children's Quarrel after Games) Allegretto non troppo, capriccioso page 19                                                                            

 4. BYDLO (Cattle) Sempre moderato pesante  page 22

Promenade 4 Tranquillo page 26

5. Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks Балет невылупивших�� птенцов Scherzino  page 27

6. Samuel Goldenberg und Schmuÿle  Еврей в меховой шапке. Cандомир  Andante page 30

Promenade 5  Allegro giusto, nel modo russico, poco sostenuto page 36

7. LIMOGES. LE MARCHÉ. (La grande nouvelle) The Market (The Great News) Allegretto vivo, sempre scherzando   page 39

8. CATACOMBAE (Sepulchrum romanum) (Roman Tomb) Париж�кие катакомбы  Largo page 46

   CON MORTUIS IN LINGUA MORTUA (With the Dead in a Dead Language) Andante non troppo, con lamento page 47

9. The Hut on Hen's Legs (Baba Yaga) Избушка Бабы-Яги на курьих ожках. Ча�ы в ру��ком �тиле Allegro con brio, feroce page 50

10. The Bogatyr Gates (In the Capital in Kiev) Проект город�ких ворот в Киеве. Главный фа�ад The Great Gates of Kiev Allegro alla breve Maestoso con grandezza page 63

Mussorgsky is known for his ability to evoke vivid pictures through his music. He creates soundscapes that transport listeners to other places and times. Through the use of complex harmonies and shifting tonalities, Mussorgsky creates sonic paintings that are as diverse and varied as any works of art in a museum. He takes listeners on a journey through different landscapes and environments, ranging from pastoral settings to the depths of the underworld. In his famous suite, Pictures at an Exhibition, Mussorgsky gives each movement a title that references a painting, sculpture, or architectural feature from an art museum. The suite is composed in such a way that it captures the moods and emotions evoked by the artworks. From the bright and energetic Promenade to the somber and mysterious Catacombs, Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition paints a vivid sonic landscape that brings the listener into the art museum.

SKU: A0.1490082

Released in 1965 by the American group The Mamas & the Papas, California Dreamin' quickly became a cornerstone of 60s folk rock. Emerging during a time of significant cultural and social change, the song conveys a deep sense of longing and the desire to escape, encapsulating the yearning for a warmer, more welcoming climate. The song not only became an anthem for those dreaming of sunny California but also secured its place in history as one of the greatest songs of all time, ranking #89 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

This sheet music has been adapted to suit musicians at a beginner to intermediate level. The main melody remains faithful to the original composition but has been transposed to a more accessible and comfortable key for the chosen instrument.

California Dreamin' is a song that captures the essence of the desire for change and refuge in a more welcoming environment. The lyrics, describing a cold winter day with brown leaves and a gray sky, contrast with the idealization of California as a sunlit paradise.