Instrumental Duet Bassoon,Instrumental Duet,Piano - Level 1 - Digital Download SKU: A0.548686 Composed by Adam. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Christian,Christmas. Score and parts. 10 pages. Jmsgu3 #3410489. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.548686). Duration: 4:56. Score 5 pg. 44 ms. Solo part: 2 pg. Piano part: 3 pg.Cantique de Noël The French composer Adolphe Adam was already famous as a composer of many successful ballets and operas. Then, in the 1840’s he wrote his most famous work - O Holy Night. The original song title was Minuit Chretiens or Cantique de Noël.  Placide Cappeau provided the original song lyrics. The song was first performed in Roquemaure by the opera singer Emily Laurey at midnight mass in 1847. It became very popular among the French, much the way that Silent Night was famous elsewhere. In the 1850’s John S. Dwight, a Unitarian minister and music teacher translated the song into English.   Adolphe Adam In his younger years, Adam studied organ and composition at the Paris Conservatoire. He also played the timpani in the Conservatoire orchestra. Adam used his savings and borrowed money to open a new opera house - the fourth opera house in Paris in 1847. Unfortunately, the Revolution of 1848 forced him to close. He taught composition at the Paris Conservatoire from 1849 until his death in 1856. Placide Cappeau The poet Cappeau was an advocate of the French Enlightenment philosopher Voltaire.  Voltaire was renowned for criticizing the Catholic church, religious intolerance, and dogma in general. Consequently, Cappeau made the Redeemer figure in his song a kind of reformer of injustices, in particular, the problem of original sin. To begin with, people recognized Cappeau’s theology as eccentric, probably even doubtful. Theology In the earlier form of Minuit, the Christ figure descends to intervene with His Father’s plan to punish mankind.  Traditional doctrine pronounces that Christ came from love, not to intervene. This version also declares that Christ appeared to expunge the original sin of Adam. Cappeau removed this part from his poem years later, because he just didn’t believe it.  He preferred to portray Christ as the reformer of disparity and unfairness. Before long, the writer/politician Alphonse de Lamartine referred to the Minuit as the the Marseillaise of religion. Most French churchmen agreed with this idea but certainly did not consider it a tribute.  Register for free lifetime updates and revisions at www.jamesguthrie.com

Bassoon,Piano - Level 2 - Digital Download SKU: A0.1487747 Composed by Various. Arranged by Colin Kirkpatrick. Baroque,Renaissance. Score and part. 17 pages. Colin Kirkpatrick Publications #1064685. Published by Colin Kirkpatrick Publications (A0.1487747). These are eleven of the most well-known dances of the Renaissance set in five movements and selected from the famous collection entitled Terpsichore, published in 1612 by Michael Praetorius. They are sure to be a welcome addition to the elementary bassoon repertoire and make a pleasing performance item at a recital. The bassoon part is in the bass clef throughout and the highest note is usually the D above the bass staff. In a couple of pieces, the next note E is used.By the time Michael Praetorius published his dance collection, he was one of the most famous musicians in Germany. The name is pronounced “terp-SI-cory” and rhymes with the word “hickory”. The original publication consisted of 312 dances in four, five and six parts. Although the dances were probably conceived for string ensemble, Praetorius was well aware that in practice they would be played by any instruments that happened to be available.These arrangements for bassoon and keyboard are based on the original 1612 publication. The music sounds more authentic using a harpsichord rather than a piano, or the harpsichord sound of a digital keyboard. The keyboard part may be interpreted quite freely with ornamentation added as appropriate. During the Renaissance, it was common practice to combine separate dances to create something of more substantial duration. A similar practice is used in these arrangements which are as follows: 1. Three Gavottes; 2. Two Ballets; 3. Two Bourées; 4. Two Courantes and 5. Two Voltas.