SKU: A0.549237

J. S. Bach BWV 508.

Bist du bei mir

Bach adapted this aria from a lost Stölzel opera called Diomedes. He changed the original orchestral instrumentation to soprano, strings, and continuo.  He also modified the voice-leading making it sound more like a Bach composition. The work appears as BWV 508 No. 25 in the Anna Magdalena Notebook No. 2.  

Source

Only a few remnants of the original opera have survived. Historians speculate that Anna Magdalena got the song from the Leipzig Opera after the bankruptcy of 1720. Chances are good, though, that the tune was a favorite of everyone in Leipzig at the time.  

Lyrics

When thou art near, I go with joy
To death and to my rest.
O how joyous would my end be,
If your fair hands
            Would close my faithful eyes. - Unknown

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 certainly the Art of Fugue. Seems like his most famous vocal works include the most noteworthy Mass in B Minor. Also, most noteworthy are the St. John Passion, and indeed 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 for BWV.

 Voyager

NASA launched two Voyager spacecraft in 1977. Onboard are phonograph records with sounds, music, and images of life on Earth. The purpose of the launch was to inform intelligent extraterrestrial life forms about conditions on Earth. The music on the disc is varied. There is Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, and Stravinsky among others. However, because Bach is so important in our music history, it contains three times more Bach than all the others combined.

SKU: A0.550924

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: 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, 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.

 Voyager

NASA launched two Voyager spacecraft in 1977. Onboard are phonograph records with sounds, music, and images of life on Earth. The purpose of the launch was to inform intelligent extraterrestrial life forms about conditions on Earth. The music on the disc is varied. There is Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, and Stravinsky among others. However, because Bach is so important in our music history, it contains three times more Bach than all the others combined.

SKU: A0.967669

Arranged by veteran instrumental educator and performer, Lawrence Underwood, as the fourth installment in his A Christmas Portfolio series, this brand new setting of I Saw Three Ships is as much fun to play as it is to hear! The arrangement opens with a jaunty, nautical 6/8 feel before entering a lyrical section. The piece then shifts gears momentarily, heading into a 4/4 march feel before evoking a feel of the highlands as we return to 6/8, building in intensity until its dramatic conclusion. Suitable for use in church or as a showpiece in any holiday setting, this piece is sure to be an audience and performer favorite!

SKU: A0.1160400

This arrangement adapted for baritone saxophone and piano was written keeping the characteristics of the original work, that is, inspiring and significant to the already known choral symphony by Beethoven, indicated to be performed by young music students, who want to enter the symphonic music, moreover, it can also be used by professional musicians, for recitals, repertoire, academic presentations and didactic material. As much as it is a funeral march, it is well suited for any musical performance occasion. The transcription is faithful to the structure, with only one change in key, so that it is comfortable for all instruments in the formation, thus maintaining the essence of the striking melody, as well as using it for ensemble practice among musicians of different traditions.

Beethoven's Ninth Symphony Op. 125 incorporates part of the poem An die Freude (To Joy), a hymn written by Friedrich Schiller, with the text sung by soloists and a choir in its last movement. It was the first example of a major composer using the human voice as prominently as the instruments in a symphony, thus creating a far-reaching work that set the tone for the symphonic form that was to be adopted by Romantic composers. This is the last complete symphony composed by Ludwig van Beethoven. The choral symphony, better known as the Ninth Symphony or The Ninth, is one of the best known works in the Western repertoire, considered both an icon and predecessor of Romantic music, and one of Beethoven's great masterpieces, where it was first performed on May 7, 1824, the same year it was completed, at the Kärntnertortheater in Vienna, Austria. The conductor was Michael Umlauf, the theater's music director, and Beethoven - dissuaded from conducting by the advanced stage of his deafness - was given a special place on the stage next to the conductor. It was later rearranged by Herbert von Karajan to become the anthem of the European Union in 1972, the national anthem of Rhodesia from 1974 until 1979, Rise, O Voices of Rhodesia, used the tune Ode to Joy..

SKU: A0.791176

KPHMS 'Solo' Collection

I did this arrangement originally for a 'Sci-Fi' inspired proms concert in Derbyshire. The organisers had hired two full-sized Daleks which stood on the sides of the stage through the performance and never moved, but pointed their 'exterminate' weapons in my direction throughout the performance. An experience that many conductors may feel they have experienced.

The music is from the original 'War of the Worlds' film and was recorded by Justin Heyward and the band 'Moody Blues'.

There are solo versions with piano accompaniment of this song available for a variety of instruments in suitable keys. The difficulty level ranges between grades 3 to 5 based on the ABRSM/Trinity scale requirements.

A 10 piece version and various solo versions with piano accompaniment are available for this work together with a full brass band version. There are also vocal versions for a male and/or female voice with a standard 3 horn 'Cruise ship' format backing.