SKU: A0.1314328

Saint-Saëns: The Swan (Le Cygne) movement 13 from the Carnival of the Animals Suite. One of his most popular and widely recognized works, it is the only movement from the Carnival Suite that Saint-Saëns permitted to be performed publicly during his lifetime. This is an excellent recital encore to demonstrate melodic playing and strategic phrasing.

The Carnival of the Animals
The Carnival of the Animals is an entertaining musical suite of fourteen movements by Camille Saint-Saëns. The work was composed for private performance by an ensemble of two pianos and solo instruments. The Swan (No. 13) is among the fourteen most famous movements. In its entirety, it lasts about 25 minutes.

Saint-Saëns Background
Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns 1835 – 1921) was, by all means, in particular, a famous French composer, brilliant organist, and significant musical mastermind of the Romantic era. Indeed, his most famous compositions, in the long run, include his Piano Concerto No. 2 (1868), Cello Concerto No. 1 (1872), and the Danse macabre (1874). Notwithstanding, we must also add Violin Concerto No. 3 (1880), Symphony No. 3 (the Organ Symphony, 1886), and, it must be remembered, Carnival of the Animals (1886) to the list.

Childhood
It is essential to realize that Saint-Saëns was undoubtedly, in fact, a child musical prodigy. Consequently, with this in mind, he made his concert debut, albeit at ten years old. Another critical point to remember is that he expressly studied at the Paris Conservatoire, then, despite reality, conversely followed a traditional career path as a church organist. Nevertheless, twenty years later, on the other hand, he left to become a successful freelance pianist and composer despite, as has been noted, his former employment situation. Furthermore, his performances were, after all, markedly in demand - not only in Europe but, above all, in the Americas all in all as well.

Youth
A point often overlooked is that in his youth, Saint-Saëns was undoubtedly excited about the modern music of the day. He was, in essence, fond of the music of his contemporaries, particularly Schumann, Liszt, and, for the most part, Wagner. In contrast, however, his compositions seemed, in fact, primarily confined within the conservative classical tradition. Be that as it may, he was, at the same time, nevertheless, a scholar of musical history.

Criticism
On the whole, his conservatism, in fact, ultimately brought him into frequent conflict in his later years with composers of the impressionist and, in particular, the dodecaphonic schools of musical thought. A point often overlooked is that he included neoclassical elements in his music, contrary to some critics. Furthermore, in so doing, he provided the most compelling evidence that he predicted the techniques and works by Stravinsky and Les Six. To put it another way, given these points, he was regarded, perhaps for the most part unfairly, as a non-progressive reactionary henceforth around the time of his passing.

Legacy
Saint-Saëns taught briefly in Paris, where his students included Gabriel Fauré. Maurice Ravel later studied with Fauré. In conclusion, both Ravel and Fauré were powerfully influenced by Saint-Saëns, whom they respected as a musical mastermind.

SKU: A0.549364

This arrangement follows the original Bach prelude and so excludes the extra measure that Schwencke introduced in 1783. If you prefer the extra measure, please see Bach-Gounod: Ave Maria, Schwencke version for Alto Sax & Piano, S0.661763. The convenient 1st & 2nd endings provide an option for extended performance with minimal page turns for the accompanist. The duration with repeat is about 4:50. Score: 6 pages. Solo part: 1 page, piano part: 4 pages. Based on Prelude #1 in C Major from the Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1. Well suited for church meditations or school programs or recital encores.

Ave Maria

Ave Maria is a Catholic prayer that consequently asks for the mother of Jesus (Mary) to intercede. Charles Gounod composed a famous version of the Ave Maria. He was a French Romantic composer who overlaid a new melody on an existing Bach chord progression. The progression is from Bach’s Prelude No. 1 from Well-Tempered Clavier I. This version, as well as Schubert’s version, have become essential items at weddings, masses, and funerals.

Bach Overview

First of all, Johann Sebastian Bach is maybe the greatest composer in music history. Certainly, he was prolific. As a result, everyone has heard of his works. Furthermore, these works number well over a thousand. It seems like people are probably most familiar with instrumental works such as the Brandenburg Concertos, and the Goldberg Variations. But, similarly famous are such noteworthy works as the Well-Tempered Clavier, the Musical Offering, and the Art of Fugue. Seems like his most famous vocal works include the most noteworthy Mass in B Minor. Also, most noteworthy, though, are the St. John Passion, and certainly the Christmas Oratorio.

 History

Bach came from a long line of musicians and above all, composers. Consequently, he, first of all, pursued a career as a church organist. So as a result, he gained employment in various Protestant churches in Germany. For a while, he worked as a court musician in Weimar and Köthen. Here he probably developed his organ style and likewise his chamber music style. Eventually, he gained an appointment as Cantor of St. Thomas in Leipzig. Here he worked until difficulties with his employer ultimately drove him away. The King of Poland finally appointed him as court composer.

 Style

It seems like Bach created an engaging new international style. He synthesized elements of the most noteworthy European music ideas into his new style. Even more, this new style was probably his synthesis of European musical rhythm and form. Furthermore, he demonstrated a complete mastery of counterpoint and motivic development. His sense of harmonic organization probably propelled him to the top.

Revival              

Mendelssohn conducted a Bach revival in the nineteenth century. His effort probably helped to re-familiarize the public with the magnitude of Bach’s works. During this period, scholars published many noteworthy Bach biographies. Moreover, Wolfgang Schmieder published the BWV (Bach Werke Verzeichnis). As a result, this is now the official catalog of his entire artistic output. The BWV number allows us to locate a work in the catalog. Sometimes scholars will simply use an S (Schmieder) as an abbreviation for BWV.

 

SKU: A0.862413

Maria-Félicie-Clémence de Grandval (1828–1907) was born on January 28, 1828 at Saint- Rémy-des-Monts, France and died on January 15, 1907 in Paris.After the death of her mother, Louise Adèle du Temple de Mésières, her father the Baron de Reiset, a military officer remarried with an Englishwoman and moved his family to London. After beginning her musical studies privately, she studied the piano with the German composer Friedrich von Flotow, who was a family friend. Returning to France, she studied the piano briefly with Chopin and composition with Camille Saint-Saëns. At first writing mostly sacred music, most of her public success was due to her comic operas: la Comtesse Eva, la Pénitente, Piccolino and Mazeppa. She also wrote orchestral music, chamber music, and over 60 songs (to poets such as Sully Prudhomme, Michel Carré, Henri Meilhac, Georges Hartmann, Charles Grandmougin and Louis Gallet.) She is chiefly known today for her music for wind instruments, especially for the oboe.

SKU: A0.548472

Traditional Christmas song arranged for alto sax & piano. Final verse features an alternate harmonization.
Score: 2 pages. Part: 1 page.

Away in a Manger – Alto Sax

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.