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: A0.550919

This arrangement features the controversial Schwencke measure (ms. 27) that was originally introduced in 1783 by Christian Friedrich Gottlieb Schwencke. The convenient 1st & 2nd endings provide an option for extended performance. Duration with repeat - 4:50. Score: 6 pages. Solo part: 2 pages, 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, therefore, 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 a 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: A0.587624

The Wedding Album is a collection of four beautiful and timeless wedding favourites, arranged for Solo Alto Saxophone with Piano accompaniment. Whether for that Special Day, for a recital, or for your own entertainment, these arrangements are ideal for players at an intermediate level or higher. The 24-page file includes the piano accompaniments and the separate solo parts at the end.

Ave Maria was written by Franz Schubert in 1825 as the sixth song in his song cycle based on Walter Scott’s poem The Lady of the Lake. It is perhaps the best known of all his melodies, adapted for piano by Franz Liszt, and for orchestra many times since. It is often sung with the Latin lyrics of the Catholic hymn of the same name and has been heard everywhere from the Disney movie Fantasia to the funeral of J.F. Kennedy.

The Bridal March was written by Richard Wagner in 1850, scored for orchestra and chorus, and opening the third act of his opera, Lohingren. It is best known in the English-speaking world as Here Comes the Bride. Queen Victoria’s daughter used the music for her marriage in 1858, and its popularity has endured ever since.

The Prince of Denmark’s March is better known nowadays as the Trumpet Voluntary and is often used in wedding ceremonies. It was in fact written for organ, with the melody played on thetrumpet stop.  Written around 1700, for many years this piece was mistakenly attributed to Henry Purcell. Only recently has it been established that the composer was Jeremiah Clarke, organist at St Paul’s Cathedral. It is somewhat ironic that this composer of a wedding mainstay was himself a victim of unrequited love. He consequently shot himself in the cathedral graveyard.

Felix Mendelssohn’s Wedding March was originally written in 1842 as incidental music to Shakespeare’s famousplay, Midsummer Night’s Dream. When Queen Victoria’s daughter used the music for her marriage in 1858, it became instantly popular and has remained a wedding favourite ever since.

These four arrangements are also available as single titles for $3.99 each. You can find these along with many more top quality arrangements and compositions by David McKeown at http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/publishers/david-mckeown/6203

SKU: A0.1143133

Opus/Catalog Number: CG 89
Key/Tone: C major
Movements/Sections: Andante semplice
Year/Date of Composition: 1853
Difficulty: Grade 6/12 (Intermediate)
Obs.: This piece is based on Gounod's original 1853 instrumental version of Ave Maria.
Gounod's original instrumental version was set for violin and piano in the key of C Major. This score is a transcription for Alto Sax and piano, remaining in the original key of C Major. Gounod entitled this instrumental version Méditation sur le 1er Prélude de piano de J.S. Bach (Meditation on the first Piano Prelude by J.S. Bach).
In Gounod's original edition, the diminuendo and piano in measures 28 and 29 are replaced by a sempre crescendo upon playing the piece for the second time.
Included: Full score and separated parts for each instrument.