SKU: A0.1285185

Monody - TheFatRat (Christian F. J. Buettner)
arr. Stephen Cai for Concert Band

Program Notes:

MUSIC
As a sequel to Pigstep by Lena Raine and Exodus by Ernest Gold, I have decided to take on the challenge of arranging the ever-famous glitch hop song, Monody by Christian Buettner (known more prominently by his online alias, TheFatRat).

Similarly to Pigstep, my first arrangement, I ran into the challenge of instrumentation, as Monody’s original soundtrack almost entirely consisted of electronic instruments. However, I used the same technique I did with Pigstep to overcome this problem: assign basslines to low brass, treble melodies to mid-range instruments, and high parts to upper woodwinds. Unlike Pigstep, Monody pushed me to be more creative with the percussion section, as I had to puzzle out recreating all of the numerous sound effects throughout the piece with traditional percussion instruments. I even decided to notate a conch shell line for the war horn present at the beginning and the coda!

At the end, however, it all came together nicely, and I came to realize that both this song and the process of arranging it represent a journey, albeit in different contexts. The word “Monody� refers to, in a literal sense, a song sung to mourn one’s death, which accordingly fits with my view of the piece as a journey where the narrator loses their companion.

Writing the introduction measures (M.22) carried me through the genuine feelings of embarking on a mythical undertaking as the original soundtrack intends to portray. The lively middle section (M.70) was enjoyable to write as well, because the music itself is upbeat and full of energy. Finally, arranging the solo section was probably my most memorable experience. The slow and subtly melancholic character of the melody (the oboe solo) very closely alludes to the narrator’s mourning, and the enchanting lyrics originally written for this section further confirms their loss:

     I still hear you in the breeze,
     See your shadows in the trees;
     Holding on, memories never change.

The chords and harmonies that the original soundtrack provided were relatively simple to transcribe, and I found joy complementing them with luscious percussion effects.

This is my interpretation of Monody, and I believe that it would be best performed as a journey, one which we can relate to as it encompasses the theme of loss; a monody.

ARTWORK
I also took up the challenge of creating original cover artwork for Monody, and I have to say, my level of appreciation for artists of any kind has skyrocketed ever since that endeavor. It took nearly two months of watching YouTube tutorials, onerous idea crunching, and using my sister’s drawing tablet, but I had nevertheless completed it with advice from some of my more experience peers (including my sister).

Formal Credits: Cai, Stephen and Rachel Cai. “Monody� Arrangement for Concert Band cover. 2023

Lastly, I want to say thanks to my friend Matteo Sohn for being such a huge musical inspiration, and thank you for acknowledging my arrangement!

SKU: A0.1035592

PROGRAM NOTE: Rosemary - That's for remembrance.... In 1882, Sir Edward Elgar jotted down in his musical notebook a piano piece he titled Douce Pensée (Sweet Thought). There it remained until 1913 when he got it out again, revised it slightly, re-titled it Rosemary - That's for remembrance, and published it for the first time. The title comes from Ophelia's Garland Speech in Shakespeare's Hamlet, where she says, There's rosemary, that's for remembrance. Pray you, love, remember. In 1915, the First World War had been raging in Europe for a year, and many British composers and poets had turned to artistic means to mourn those who died in the trenches of across the Channel. Elgar orchestrated the work at that time. In 1925, London publisher W. Paxton published arrangements by C. Jenkins made for brass and reed band and for military band; however, these are now out of print and no longer available. In the fall of 2015, Mitch Sturman, director of the Wilson Junior High School Warrior Band in El Centro, California, asked me to make an arrangement of Rosemary for the Eighth Annual Concert of Premieres, a series Sturman had begun in 2008, commissioning new works by known composers, and commissioning new arrangements of pieces he felt were worthy works in the public domain that were no longer in print and/or were written for ensembles containing instruments no longer part of the standard modern band or orchestra. INSTRUMENTATION: Flute I (4), Flute II (4), Oboe (1), Clarinet I (4), Clarinet II (4), Clarinet III (4), Bass Clarinet (1), Bassoon (1), Alto Saxophone (4), Tenor Saxophone (2), Baritone Saxophone (1); Trumpet I (3), Trumpet II (3), French Horn (2), Baritone Horn T.C. (2), Baritone Horn B.C. (2), Trombone (6), Tuba (2); Timpani [F2, B-flat 2] (1), Snare Drum (1),Triange (1), Suspended Cymbal (1), Bass Drum (1), Glockenspiel (1). Joel Jacklich May 21, 2015 El Centro, California.

SKU: A0.751055

When A Child Is Born is a popular Christmas song. The original melody was Soleado, a tune from 1974 by Ciro Dammicco (alias Zacar), composer for Italy's Daniel Sentacruz Ensemble, and Dario Baldan Bembo. The tune was based on Damicco's earlier tune Le rose blu published in 1972. The English language lyrics were written a few years later by Fred Jay (Friedrich Alex Jacobson). They do not make specific mention of Christmas. Fred Jay's lyrics have been sung by many artists, most successfully by Johnny Mathis in 1976, whose version was the Christmas number one of that year in the UK. [Wikipedia]

This is an arrangement for the Concert Band with an Optional Vocal and Chorded Piano part (Not shown on the score). It can also be used as an instrumental featuring a solo on the Trumpet and the Oboe.

There are parts for both Euphonium TC and BC, Tubas in C, Eb, and Bb.

Percussion parts include Glockenspiel, Timpani, and Drum Set

Grade = 3 Duration = 2:45 mins

The audio was recorded with NotePerformer 3.

SKU: A0.751040

The Neighbours theme song is the theme tune to the Australian soap opera Neighbours. It was composed by Tony Hatch and written by his then-wife, Jackie Trent. The song was originally recorded by Barry Crocker, who also recorded the updated version, subsequent versions have been recorded by a variety of artists.

This arrangement of the original theme is for the Concert Band with an Optional Piano Part. There are parts for Horns in Eb and F, Euphonium TC and BC.

Grade = 3 Duration = 3 mins

Audio was recorded with NotePerformer 3.

© Copyright 1985 Mr & Mrs Music Pty, Australia.

Mr & Mrs Music Limited/Dejamus Limited.

All Rights Reserved. International Copyright Secured.

SKU: A0.751086

Mary, Did You Know? is a Christmas song addressing Mary, mother of Jesus, with lyrics written by Mark Lowry in 1984, and music written by Buddy Greene in 1991. The song has since gone on to become a modern Christmas classic, recorded by hundreds of artists over the years.

This is an arrangement for Solo Flugelhorn (or Trumpet) and Concert Band including an optional Piano accompaniment part. There are parts for Horns in F and Eb, Euphonium in TC and BC. The MP3 was recorded with NotePerformer 3. 

Grade = 3 Duration = 3: 08 mins

 Words and Music by MARK LOWRY and BUDDY GREENE Arranged by Brendan Elliget MAGA 537


 Â© 1991 Word Music LLC and Rufus Music All Rights for Word Music LLC Administered by WC Music Corp. All Rights for Rufus Music Administered at Capitol CMGPublishing.com All Rights Reserved Used by Permission.

SKU: A0.1422717

BORN THIS WAY performed by Lady Gaga
For Concert Band - Performance Time 3:40 - Digital Download

Composed by Fernando Garibay, Stefani Germanotta, Paul Blair, Jeppe Laursen
Arranged by Simone Orsini

Instrumentation:
Full Score, Flute 1, 2, Oboe, Bassoon, Eb Clarinet, Bb Clarinet 1, 2, 3, Bb Bass Clarinet, Eb Alto Saxophone 1, 2, Bb Tenor Saxophone, Eb Baritone Saxophone, Bb Trumpet 1, 2, 3, F Horn 1, 2, 3, 4, Trombone 1, 2, Bass Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba, El. Bass, Drum Set, Percussion 1 (Tamb., Shaker), Percussion 2 (Bongos, Cowbell) El. Guitar, keyboard.

Additional Parts:
Bb Soprano Saxophone, Eb Horn 1, 2, 3, 4, Bb Trombone 1, 2 T.C., Bb Bass Trombone T.C., Bb Euphonium T.C., Bb Bass T.C.

Born This Way is a song by American singer Lady Gaga, and the lead single from her second studio album of the same name. Written by Gaga and Jeppe Laursen, who produced it along with Fernando Garibay and DJ White Shadow, the track was developed while Gaga was on the road with the Monster Ball Tour. Inspired by 1990s music which empowered women, minorities, and the LGBT community, Gaga explained that Born This Way was her freedom song. It was also inspired by Carl Bean and his song I Was Born This Way, released in 1977. She sang part of the chorus at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards and announced it as the lead single from the album, released on February 11, 2011.

The song is backed by rumbling synth sounds, a humming bass and additional chorus percussion, with sole organ toward the end. The lyrics discuss the self-empowerment of the LGBT community and racial minorities. Critics positively reviewed the song, calling it a club-ready anthem. In 2023, Rolling Stone named Born This Way the Most Inspirational LGBT Song of All Time. It reached number one in over 25 countries and was her third single to top the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and the 1,000th song in that chart's history (since 1958) to reach number one. Born This Way has sold 8.2 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling singles of all time.

Nick Knight directed the accompanying music video, which was inspired by surrealist painters like Salvador Dalí and Francis Bacon. Gaga is depicted as giving birth to a new race during a prologue. After a series of dance sequences, the video concludes with the view of a city populated by this race. Critics noted the video's references to the work of Madonna, Michael Jackson and fashion designer Alexander McQueen, as well as to Greek mythology and surrealism.

Gaga performed the song at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards after coming out of an incubating vessel. Shortly after, she added it to the setlist of the last leg of the Monster Ball Tour. Born This Way was later performed on television shows, such as Saturday Night Live, Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve and Good Morning America, many of the singer's tours, and it was notably part of her Super Bowl LI halftime show set. The song was treated with different remixes, including a Country Road version recorded by Gaga herself and another by Indian production duo Salim–Sulaiman. It has been covered by artists such as Alice Cooper, Madonna, and Katy Perry.

SKU: IZ.CBW184-S

9 x 12 in inches.

Dorian Blues provides for a wealth of fun, yet educational musical moments for young musicians. Directors will have the opportunity to discuss modes, blues scales, and medieval plainchant. The piece mixes quasi-Dorian and blues scales and is grounded around the pitch concert D; therefore, the piece is largely in d-minor, a highly accessible key for emerging musicians. Students will have the opportunity to perform a variety of articulations, rhythms, accidentals and tempi. In addition, the numerous texture and mood changes will challenge the musicianship skills of the performers. The syncopated rhythms and quarter-note triplets will also provide for excellent teachable moments.

The use of medieval modes in jazz certainly isn't a new concept as artists like Miles Davis utilized Dorian in So What, and John Coltrane as well in Impressions. Traditionally, modes have been found in instrumental music for centuries as seen in Sibelius' 6th Symphony, and more recently employed in wind band examples for students such as Elliot del Borgo's Dorian Rhapsody. Dorian Blues, however, is perhaps the first piece for young band that combines medieval chant on D Dorian with jazz-like rhythms and blue-notes.

SKU: IZ.CBW184

9 x 12 in inches.

Dorian Blues provides for a wealth of fun, yet educational musical moments for young musicians. Directors will have the opportunity to discuss modes, blues scales, and medieval plainchant. The piece mixes quasi-Dorian and blues scales and is grounded around the pitch concert D; therefore, the piece is largely in d-minor, a highly accessible key for emerging musicians. Students will have the opportunity to perform a variety of articulations, rhythms, accidentals and tempi. In addition, the numerous texture and mood changes will challenge the musicianship skills of the performers. The syncopated rhythms and quarter-note triplets will also provide for excellent teachable moments.

The use of medieval modes in jazz certainly isn't a new concept as artists like Miles Davis utilized Dorian in So What, and John Coltrane as well in Impressions. Traditionally, modes have been found in instrumental music for centuries as seen in Sibelius' 6th Symphony, and more recently employed in wind band examples for students such as Elliot del Borgo's Dorian Rhapsody. Dorian Blues, however, is perhaps the first piece for young band that combines medieval chant on D Dorian with jazz-like rhythms and blue-notes.

SKU: A0.1152527

Symphonie fantastique is a piece of program music that tells the story of an artist gifted with a lively imagination who has poisoned himself with opium in the depths of despair because of hopeless, unrequited love. Berlioz provided his own preface and program notes for each movement of the work. Convinced that his love is spurned, the artist poisons himself with opium. The dose of narcotic, while too weak to cause his death, plunges him into a heavy sleep accompanied by the strangest of visions. He dreams that he has killed his beloved, that he is condemned, led to the scaffold and is witnessing his own execution. The procession advances to the sound of a march that is sometimes sombre and wild, and sometimes brilliant and solemn, in which a dull sound of heavy footsteps follows without transition the loudest outbursts. At the end of the march, the first four bars of the idée fixe reappear like a final thought of love interrupted by the fatal blow. Berlioz claimed to have written the fourth movement in a single night, reconstructing music from an unfinished project, the opera Les francs-juges. The movement begins with timpani sextuplets in thirds, for which he directs: The first quaver of each half-bar is to be played with two drumsticks, and the other five with the right hand drumsticks. The movement proceeds as a march filled with blaring horns and rushing passages, and scurrying figures that later show up in the last movement. NOTES: - The two timpani part can be played by only the 2 pairs of timpani. - Measure 93 and 100: Clarinet 1, 2 and 3 play one octave lower as written.