E-Flat Clarinet,Piano - Level 2 - Digital Download SKU: A0.549849 Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Baroque,Concert,Easter,Sacred,Standards. Score and part. 12 pages. Jmsgu3 #3555017. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.549849). Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (Awake, the voice is calling us) from Cantata BWV 140. Duration: ca. 4:00, Score: 6 pages, solo part 1 page, piano part: 4 pages. Program this for church services during the Easter season, weddings, or as a recital encore. www.jamesguthrie.comWachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (Awake, the Voice is calling us) also known as: Sleepers Awake Bach composed his church cantata Wachet auf (BWV 140) as part of his second annual cantata cycle covering the entire annual church calendar. It is based on the hymn of the same name by Philipp Nicolai (1599). The hymn text covers the readings for the 27th Sunday after Trinity. Bach designed the cantata in seven movements, setting the stanzas in various forms. Among these forms are the chorale fantasia, the chorale prelude, and a four-part chorale. He casts the new lyrics as recitatives – in a manner similar to the opera. Fourth Movement Bach writes the fourth movement, Zion hört die Wächter singen (Zion hears the watchmen singing), in the style of a chorale prelude with the chorale phrases performed as a strict cantus firmus. The phrases seem to enter at times erratically against the famous lyrical melody. The violins play this melody in unison as a foil against the cantus phrases. The violin melody is so independent and complete that when the cantus melody appears it catches the listener at times totally off-guard. Bach later transcribed this movement for organ (BWV 645). This transcription became No. 1 of the Six Schübler Chorales. 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 the 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 certainly 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 court composer.  Style It seems like Bach created a fascinating 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.

E-Flat Clarinet,Piano - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.549379 Composed by George Frideric Handel. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Baroque,Sacred,Standards,Wedding. Score and part. 9 pages. Jmsgu3 #3492251. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.549379). Duration: 4:55, Score: 6 pages, Solo part: 1 page, piano part: 2 pages. A very famous aria (Ombra mai fu) from XerxesSuitable 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.  

E-Flat Clarinet,Piano - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.549582 Composed by Edvard Grieg. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Concert,Instructional,Romantic Period,Standards,World. Score and part. 18 pages. Jmsgu3 #3509567. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.549582). Duration: ca. 2:17 Score: 10 pages, solo part: 2 pages, piano part: 5 pages. A proven audience pleaser - perfect for a recital encore! Grieg Background In the first place, Edvard Grieg (1843 –1907) was a Norwegian composer as well as a concert pianist. As a matter of fact, most music historians consider him one of the foremost Romantic era composers. Consequently, his music is part of the international standard classical repertoire. Grieg moreover used Norwegian folk music in his own compositions.  Consequently, he ushered Norwegian music to transnational consciousness. Furthermore, he forged a national musical identity for Norway. It is important to realize that he did this in a manner similar to Jean Sibelius in Finland, and BedÅ™ich Smetana in Bohemia. Legacy Grieg is especially celebrated in the city of Bergen. For example, the city has erected numerous statues depicting Grieg. Specifically, the city has named a concert hall (Grieg Hall), a music school (Grieg Academy) and a professional choir (Edvard Grieg Kor) after him. As a matter of fact, there is also a museum located at his former home in Troldhaugen. Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 (Op. 46) Grieg wrote incidental music for the purpose of illustrating a play by Ibsen known as Peer Gynt. The play includes, in particular, the famous selection entitled, In the Hall of the Mountain King. In this composition, Grieg indeed depicts the exploits of the scoundrel, Peer Gynt. In one famous episode, for example, Peer steals a bride at her wedding. For this reason, the people chase him, but soon Peer falls, thereupon striking his skull on a boulder. He wakens forthwith in a highland bounded by angry gnomes. Consequently, the music of In the Hall of the Mountain King represents the mad gnomes taunting Peer. Therefore, each time the theme repeats it gets louder and faster. In the end, Peer surprisingly escapes from the mountain. Holberg Suite and Misc. Summary It must be remembered that Grieg originally wrote his Holberg Suite for the piano. In other words, he only later arranged it for strings. Further, Grieg composed by and large many songs with lyrics by famous writers such as Heine, Goethe, Ibsen, Hans Christian Andersen, Rudyard Kipling, and others. On balance, Norwegian pianist Eva Knardahl recorded altogether Grieg’s whole piano catalog on LP in 1980. These recordings were released again on CD in 2006. In any event, Grieg himself performed and recorded the bulk of these pieces toward the end of his life. Register for free lifetime revisions and updates at www.jamesguthrie.com.

E-Flat Clarinet,Piano - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.549540 Composed by Edvard Grieg. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Concert,Contemporary,Romantic Period,Sacred,Standards. Score and part. 11 pages. Jmsgu3 #3505897. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.549540). Duration: ca. 3:40, Score: 5 pages, solo part: 2 pages, piano part: 3 pages. Super-famous instantly recognizable tune, not very difficult - suitable for a recital, funeral or church meditation. Grieg Background In the first place, Edvard Grieg (1843 –1907) was a Norwegian composer as well as a concert pianist. As a matter of fact, most music historians consider him one of the foremost Romantic era composers. Consequently, his music is part of the international standard classical repertoire. Grieg moreover used Norwegian folk music in his own compositions.  Consequently, he ushered Norwegian music to transnational consciousness. Furthermore, he forged a national musical identity for Norway. It is important to realize that he did this in a manner similar to Jean Sibelius in Finland, and BedÅ™ich Smetana in Bohemia. Legacy Grieg is especially celebrated in the city of Bergen. For example, the city has erected numerous statues depicting Grieg. Specifically, the city has named a concert hall (Grieg Hall), a music school (Grieg Academy) and a professional choir (Edvard Grieg Kor) after him. As a matter of fact, there is also a museum located at his former home in Troldhaugen. Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 (Op. 46) Grieg wrote incidental music for the purpose of illustrating a play by Ibsen known as Peer Gynt. The play includes, in particular, the famous selection entitled, In the Hall of the Mountain King. In this composition, Grieg indeed depicts the exploits of the scoundrel, Peer Gynt. In one famous episode, for example, Peer steals a bride at her wedding. For this reason, the people chase him, but soon Peer falls, thereupon striking his skull on a boulder. He wakens forthwith in a highland bounded by angry gnomes. Consequently, the music of In the Hall of the Mountain King represents the mad gnomes taunting Peer. Therefore, each time the theme repeats it gets louder and faster. In the end, Peer surprisingly escapes from the mountain. Holberg Suite and Misc. Summary It must be remembered that Grieg originally wrote his Holberg Suite for the piano. In other words, he only later arranged it for strings. Further, Grieg composed by and large many songs with lyrics by famous writers such as Heine, Goethe, Ibsen, Hans Christian Andersen, Rudyard Kipling, and others. On balance, Norwegian pianist Eva Knardahl recorded altogether Grieg’s whole piano catalog on LP in 1980. These recordings were released again on CD in 2006. In any event, Grieg himself performed and recorded the bulk of these pieces toward the end of his life.Register for free lifetime revisions and updates at www.jamesguthrie.com

E-Flat Clarinet,Piano - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.549516 Composed by Edvard Grieg. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Instructional,Romantic Period,Sacred,Standards. Score and part. 17 pages. Jmsgu3 #3502617. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.549516). Duration: ca. 4:00, Score: 9 pages, solo part: 3 pages, piano part: 4 pages. Super-famous instantly recognizable tune, not very difficult - suitable for a recital or church meditation. Works particularly well on the Alto Clarinet! Grieg Background In the first place, Edvard Grieg (1843 –1907) was a Norwegian composer as well as a concert pianist. As a matter of fact, most music historians consider him one of the foremost Romantic-era composers. Consequently, his music is part of the international standard classical repertoire. Grieg moreover used Norwegian folk music in his own compositions.  Consequently, he ushered Norwegian music to transnational consciousness. Furthermore, he forged a national musical identity for Norway. It is important to realize that he did this in a manner similar to Jean Sibelius in Finland, and Bedřich Smetana in Bohemia. Legacy Grieg is especially celebrated in the city of Bergen. For example, the city has erected numerous statues depicting Grieg. Specifically, the city has named a concert hall (Grieg Hall), a music school (Grieg Academy), and a professional choir (Edvard Grieg Kor) after him. As a matter of fact, there is also a museum located at his former home in Troldhaugen. Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 (Op. 46) Grieg wrote incidental music for the purpose of illustrating a play by Ibsen known as Peer Gynt. The play includes, in particular, the famous selection entitled, In the Hall of the Mountain King. In this composition, Grieg depicts the exploits of the scoundrel, Peer Gynt. In one famous episode, for example, Peer steals a bride at her wedding. For this reason, the people chase him, but soon Peer falls, striking his skull on a boulder. He wakens forthwith in a highland bounded by angry gnomes. Consequently, the music of In the Hall of the Mountain King represents the mad gnomes taunting Peer. Therefore, each time the theme repeats it gets louder and faster. In the end, Peer surprisingly escapes from the mountain. Holberg Suite and Misc. Summary It must be remembered that Grieg originally wrote his Holberg Suite for the piano. In other words, he only later arranged it for strings. Further, Grieg composed many songs with lyrics by famous writers such as Heine, Goethe, Ibsen, Hans Christian Andersen, Rudyard Kipling, and others. On balance, Norwegian pianist Eva Knardahl recorded altogether Grieg’s whole piano catalog on LP in 1980. These recordings were released again on CD in 2006. In any event, Grieg himself performed and recorded the bulk of these pieces toward the end of his life.

E-Flat Clarinet,Piano - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.549896 Composed by Felix Bartholdy Mendelssohn. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Romantic Period,Standards,Wedding. Score and part. 23 pages. Jmsgu3 #3603419. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.549896). Score: 12 pages, piano part: 6 pages, alto clarinet part: 4 pages. duration: ca. 5'. Register for free lifetime updates and revisions of this product at www.jamesguthrie.com This is the famous wedding march from Op. 61 composed in 1842 and commonly performed as a recessional march at the end of a wedding. The piece was originally composed for orchestra then arranged for organ and performed by Mendelssohn himself. Mendelssohn: Wedding March Mendelssohn’s Wedding March is so popular that it’s difficult to imagine a wedding without it. It seems like it’s been around for eternity. In any case, it was only 150 years or so ago that the Wedding March came about. It was performed in Potsdam for the first time in 1842, as a piece of Mendelssohn’s music for the Shakespeare play A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It was first used for a wedding in 1858 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 all of a sudden 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 major 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 methodical 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. C.

Clarinet - Digital Download SKU: IZ.9780976508106 Composed by Phillip Paglialonga. Score. 111 pages. Imagine Music - Digital #9780976508106. Published by Imagine Music - Digital (IZ.9780976508106). 9 x 12 in inches.Squeak Big teaches aspiring clarinetists the fundamentals necessary for success on the instrument through conceptual development and practical exercises. It will undoubtedly become an important resource for aspiring clarinetists and educators worldwide.For years, Dr. Paglialonga has helped his students improve by creating exercises and explanations to address fundamental playing issues. These materials circulated throughout the clarinet community, leading to numerous requests for materials to address other specific problems. Squeak Big answers those requests, making these materials available to a wider audience in a simple, easy-to-use format.Squeak Big is filled with healthy, concise, no-nonsense advice, as well as some great tips and tricks. I would recommend it to anyone wanting to advance their relationship with the clarinet. (Samuel Caviezel - Associate Principal Clarinet, Philadelphia Orchestra) Squeak Big is a wonderful resource for student and teacher alike. In it, Dr. Paglialonga provides helpful insights on clarinet playing from the fundamentals of producing a beautiful sound to hints on practicing in real life situations. His methodical approach helps to demystify clarinet playing and is geared towards helping improve both technique and musicianship. A must-have for any clarinetist's library! (Benjamin Lulich - Principal Clarinet, Cleveland Orchestra) Squeak Big is full of useful information. I highly recommend it to anyone who's looking for practical ways to become a better clarinetist! (Alexander Fiterstein - Prominent International Soloist) I would recommend Squeak Big to anyone wanting to improve or better understand the fundamentals of sound clarinet playing. (Carey Bell - Principal Clarinet, San Francisco Symphony) Phillip Paglialonga has written a thoughtful and detailed treatise on playing the clarinet. He communicates from a thorough knowledge of the instrument and its workings. This volume is a valuable reference for teachers and performers alike, replete with numerous practical suggestions and exercises. If only every clarinet player could digest the information Dr. Paglialonga sets forth herein, good solid foundations would be formed and bad habits easily prevented. (John Bruce Yeh - Assistant Principal Clarinet, Chicago Symphony) Squeak Big provides valuable advice for players at every stage of development, with easy practical methods, useful exercises, and even a bit of historical context. I've already been able to incorporate many of these ideas, not only into my teaching, but also into my own playing! (Ralph Skiano - Principal Clarinet, Detroit Symphony) Squeak Big is excellent and I'm sure it will be of great value to many players. Phillip Paglialonga explains so many of the fundamentals in a very clear, concise way. Bravo! (Larry Guy - Prominent Pedagogue).

E-Flat Clarinet,Piano - Level 2 - Digital Download SKU: A0.549357 Composed by Bach-Gounod. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Christmas,Contemporary,Easter,Wedding. Score and part. 11 pages. Jmsgu3 #3490029. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.549357). 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 Clarinet & Piano, S0.661759. 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 a fascinating 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.  

Clarinet Solo - Level 5 - Digital Download SKU: A0.1018927 Composed by Benjamin Harry Sajo. 20th Century,Contemporary. Individual part. 5 pages. Benjamin Sajo #6072957. Published by Benjamin Sajo (A0.1018927). Fugue: Wear Pearls and Smile is, on the outset, a fast, rambunctious adventure for many voices playing at the same time. It was conceived as a pairing for the equally vivacious second symphony of Ludwig van Beethoven–his 250th birthday is this year–but can stand on its own as one of my hardest, most challenging works to cook up.This piece is dedicated to those forced to appear positive when internally they’re falling apart. The title is inspired by a quote that’s been with me for a while, Why is it that men can be bastards and women must wear pearls and smile? by Lynn Hecht Schafren, the celebrated American jurist famous for campaigning for gender equity in courts. I’m taking the quote out of its initial context, but the power of that quote, for me, exemplifies how hard it is to maintain a sense of emotional decorum and dignity when you’re authentically a hot mess. And what’s more of a musical hot mess than a fugue?There are two realities to this piece. I’ll quote Dmitri Shostakovich, from his autobiography: The rejoicing is forced, created under threat, […] It’s as if someone were beating you with a stick and saying, ‘Your business is rejoicing, your business is rejoicing,’ and you rise, shaky, and go marching off, muttering ‘Our business is rejoicing, our business is rejoicing.’ On the one hand, it is insincere happiness, cloying perhaps. But the other truth, I’ll quote Oscar Hammerstein II, from The King and I: While shivering in my shoes / I strike a careless pose / And whistle a happy tune / And no one ever knows, / I'm afraid. I forced myself, against all impulses of my current being, to forge happiness. This piece, with its origin being a mental puzzle (fugues are puzzles), it became a construct where I could lift myself up and regain a sense of purpose. Therefore, it is invented–out of a literal need to survive–pure, genuine happiness.Future Performances: If you are interested in performing this work, please e-mail me.ABOUT THE COMPOSER: Benjamin Sajo (b. 1988) is a Canadian composer of contemporary classical music, as well as an educator. Since developing a fiercely independent creative voice upon the completion of his studies at Western (2010) and McGill Universities (2013), he continues to find inspiration from the intersection of mythology, art, and nature upon the contemporary human experience. In 2019, he released his premiere album of original music, The Great War Sextet: Canadian War Poetry with Trombone & Strings , with support from the Ontario Arts Council. He is a member of SOCAN and the League of Canadian Composers.

Clarinet Solo - Level 5 - Digital Download SKU: A0.1018929 Composed by Benjamin Harry Sajo. 20th Century,Contemporary. Individual part. 5 pages. Benjamin Sajo #6072959. Published by Benjamin Sajo (A0.1018929). Fugue: Wear Pearls and Smile is, on the outset, a fast, rambunctious adventure for many voices playing at the same time. It was conceived as a pairing for the equally vivacious second symphony of Ludwig van Beethoven–his 250th birthday is this year–but can stand on its own as one of my hardest, most challenging works to cook up.This piece is dedicated to those forced to appear positive when internally they’re falling apart. The title is inspired by a quote that’s been with me for a while, Why is it that men can be bastards and women must wear pearls and smile? by Lynn Hecht Schafren, the celebrated American jurist famous for campaigning for gender equity in courts. I’m taking the quote out of its initial context, but the power of that quote, for me, exemplifies how hard it is to maintain a sense of emotional decorum and dignity when you’re authentically a hot mess. And what’s more of a musical hot mess than a fugue?There are two realities to this piece. I’ll quote Dmitri Shostakovich, from his autobiography: The rejoicing is forced, created under threat, […] It’s as if someone were beating you with a stick and saying, ‘Your business is rejoicing, your business is rejoicing,’ and you rise, shaky, and go marching off, muttering ‘Our business is rejoicing, our business is rejoicing.’ On the one hand, it is insincere happiness, cloying perhaps. But the other truth, I’ll quote Oscar Hammerstein II, from The King and I: While shivering in my shoes / I strike a careless pose / And whistle a happy tune / And no one ever knows, / I'm afraid. I forced myself, against all impulses of my current being, to forge happiness. This piece, with its origin being a mental puzzle (fugues are puzzles), it became a construct where I could lift myself up and regain a sense of purpose. Therefore, it is invented–out of a literal need to survive–pure, genuine happiness.Future Performances: If you are interested in performing this work, please e-mail me.ABOUT THE COMPOSER: Benjamin Sajo (b. 1988) is a Canadian composer of contemporary classical music, as well as an educator. Since developing a fiercely independent creative voice upon the completion of his studies at Western (2010) and McGill Universities (2013), he continues to find inspiration from the intersection of mythology, art, and nature upon the contemporary human experience. In 2019, he released his premiere album of original music, The Great War Sextet: Canadian War Poetry with Trombone & Strings , with support from the Ontario Arts Council. He is a member of SOCAN and the League of Canadian Composers.

E-Flat Clarinet,Piano - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.549497 Composed by Felix Bartholdy Mendelssohn. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Instructional,Romantic Period,Sacred,Standards. Score and part. 20 pages. Jmsgu3 #3501029. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.549497). ALTO CLARINET & PIANO - 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.

Clarinet and piano - intermediate to advanced - Digital Download SKU: S9.Q53278 Une nuit étoilée. Composed by Carl Baermann. Edited by Rainer Mohrs and Rudolf Mauz. This edition: Sheet music. (c) 2020 Schott Music GmbH & Co. KG, Mainz. Classical. Downloadable. Op. 17. 22 pages. Schott Music - Digital #Q53278. Published by Schott Music - Digital (S9.Q53278). German • Danish.Carl Baermann, son of the clarinet virtuoso Heinrich Baermann (for whom Carl Maria von Weber wrote his Clarinet Concerto no. 1, op. 73), was born in Potsdam and was taught to play the clarinet by his father. At the age of 14 he was allowed to play in the court orchestra in Munich. He played in this orchestra for over 50 years, as well as teaching at the Munich Conservatory. In 1880 he was appointed Professor. Baermann was also involved in improving the construction of the clarinet and is still famous today for his celebrated clarinet method opus 63 and 64. The three selected pieces were written before the publication of his clarinet method. They are expressive compositions, inspired by nature, of romantic spirit. For two of the pieces, Baermann has added short comments describing the character of the music. At the beginning of ‘An Evening on the Mountains’ he explains: ‘The added notes are intended purely as a guide for the performer, relating the feelings that I experienced with these little tone pictures’. Sternenhelle Nacht (plate number 6882) was published in 1843.

Clarinet and piano - intermediate to advanced - Digital Download SKU: S9.Q53279 Une soirée sur les montagnes. Composed by Carl Baermann. Edited by Rainer Mohrs and Rudolf Mauz. This edition: Sheet music. (c) 2020 Schott Music GmbH & Co. KG, Mainz. Classical. Downloadable. Op. 25. 23 pages. Schott Music - Digital #Q53279. Published by Schott Music - Digital (S9.Q53279). German • Danish.Carl Baermann, son of the clarinet virtuoso Heinrich Baermann (for whom Carl Maria von Weber wrote his Clarinet Concerto no. 1, op. 73), was born in Potsdam and was taught to play the clarinet by his father. At the age of 14 he was allowed to play in the court orchestra in Munich. He played in this orchestra for over 50 years, as well as teaching at the Munich Conservatory. In 1880 he was appointed Professor. Baermann was also involved in improving the construction of the clarinet and is still famous today for his celebrated clarinet method opus 63 and 64. The three selected pieces were written before the publication of his clarinet method. They are expressive compositions, inspired by nature, of romantic spirit. For two of the pieces, Baermann has added short comments describing the character of the music. At the beginning of ‘An Evening on the Mountains’ he explains: ‘The added notes are intended purely as a guide for the performer, relating the feelings that I experienced with these little tone pictures’. Ein Abend auf den Bergen was published in 1846 (plate number 8131).

Clarinet and piano - intermediate to advanced - Digital Download SKU: S9.Q53280 Bonheur perdu. Composed by Carl Baermann. Edited by Rainer Mohrs and Rudolf Mauz. This edition: Sheet music. (c) 2020 Schott Music GmbH & Co. KG, Mainz. Classical. Downloadable. Op. 30. 13 pages. Schott Music - Digital #Q53280. Published by Schott Music - Digital (S9.Q53280). German • Danish.Carl Baermann, son of the clarinet virtuoso Heinrich Baermann (for whom Carl Maria von Weber wrote his Clarinet Concerto no. 1, op. 73), was born in Potsdam and was taught to play the clarinet by his father. At the age of 14 he was allowed to play in the court orchestra in Munich. He played in this orchestra for over 50 years, as well as teaching at the Munich Conservatory. In 1880 he was appointed Professor. Baermann was also involved in improving the construction of the clarinet and is still famous today for his celebrated clarinet method opus 63 and 64. The three selected pieces were written before the publication of his clarinet method. They are expressive compositions, inspired by nature, of romantic spirit. For two of the pieces, Baermann has added short comments describing the character of the music. At the beginning of ‘An Evening on the Mountains’ he explains: ‘The added notes are intended purely as a guide for the performer, relating the feelings that I experienced with these little tone pictures’. Verlornes Glück was published in 1854 (plate number 11437).

E-Flat Clarinet,Piano - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.549758 Composed by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Children,Christmas,Romantic Period,Standards. Score and part. 17 pages. Jmsgu3 #3533255. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.549758). Duration: ca. 3:15 Score: 10 pages, solo part: 2 pages, piano part: 4 pages. Tchaikovsky paints a very mysterious mood in this favorite masterpiece from the Nutcracker Suite. It is also a traditional Christmas favorite. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Tchaikovsky is probably the most popular of the great composers in America. His music certainly appeals to musicians. Likewise, it appeals even to folks who don’t normally listen to serious music. This is probably because of his most noteworthy melodies. Above all, he writes with great emotion. This certainly makes a most noteworthy if not an unforgettable impact. Education First of all, He attended classes at the Russian Musical Society. Even more, He also attended the St. Petersburg Conservatory. There he studied music theory with Nikolai Zaremba. He also consequently studied composition with Anton Rubenstein. It seems like Rubenstein came under criticism from a group of Russian composers known as the Five. The Five The Five certainly rejected Western musical influences. They rather sought to use elements from Russian music. They furthermore wanted to use more exotic musical materials. Western Techniques More than other Russian composers, Tchaikovsky studied modern Western music. He certainly develops his music like the European masters. So, rather than repeating a motive, he moves to a new key. He then introduces a different theme in the new key. Hence, he maintained his independence from the Five. Even more, he became the first Russian composer of international stature. Influences Tchaikovsky was probably influenced in his ballet scoring by Léo Delibes. Richard Wagner influenced his symphonic writing. Tchaikovsky’s most famous works include the 1812 Overture, The Nutcracker Suite, and Swan Lake. Also famous are the Violin Concerto in D and the six symphonies. The greatest of the six symphonies may be No. 6, the Pathétique. Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a The Nutcracker Suite is a ballet that was performed for the first time in December 1892 in St. Petersburg. To begin with, the original ballet failed to attract a positive reception. However, the ballet suite became probably one of the most popular of all of Tchaikovsky’s works. The ballet suite became even more famous in the 1960s. It is now performed all over the world, particularly during the Christmas season.