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SKU: A0.1324217

Veni, Veni, Emmanuel, also known as O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, is a Christian hymn for Advent. Here are some interesting facts about it:

Ancient Origins: The hymn synthesizes the great, ancient O Antiphons sung for Vespers during Advent.
Tune and Translation: The familiar tune, Veni Emmanuel, was first linked with this hymn in 1851, when Thomas Helmore published it in the Hymnal Noted, paired with an early revision of Neale's English translation.

Variations: While the Veni Emmanuel tune predominates in the English-speaking world, several others have been closely associated with the hymn.

Concerto: Veni, Veni, Emmanuel is also the title of a concerto for percussion and orchestra by James MacMillan, the most frequently performed concerto composed in the 1990s.

Significance: The hymn is significant for its ancient origins, its association with the Advent season, and its musical adaptations, including a notable concerto by James MacMillan.

These facts highlight the hymn's rich history, musical significance, and enduring popularity.

SKU: A0.1282833

John Bull was an English composer, organist, virginalist, and organ builder who lived from 1562/63 to 1628. He was educated as a chorister of the Chapel Royal in London and later became a doctor of music at the universities of both Oxford and Cambridge. Bull was one of the most famous composers of keyboard music of the early 17th century, and most of his compositions were written for the virginal, a keyboard instrument popular in the Renaissance period. He was known for his outstanding technical ability and keyboard virtuosity, and his music is distinguished by unfailing resourcefulness in devising new musical ideas. Bull's reputation rests on his extensive compositions for virginals and organ, some 150 extant pieces published in Musica Britannica. He was also one of the contributors to Parthenia, a collection of keyboard music published in 1611. Bull wrote an anthem, God the Father, God the Son, for the 1613 wedding of the princess and the Elector Palatine, in addition to his keyboard compositions, verse anthems, canons, and other works. Bull's music ranked among the foremost composers along with Byrd, Gibbons, and Tomkins.

John Bull had several contemporaries who were also prominent composers during the Renaissance period. Some of these composers include:

William Byrd: Byrd was an English composer and one of the most influential figures in English Renaissance music. He was a contemporary of John Bull and is considered one of the greatest composers of his time. Byrd's compositions include sacred choral music, keyboard works, and consort music.

Orlando Gibbons: Gibbons was an English composer and organist who lived during the same period as John Bull. He was known for his sacred choral music, particularly his anthems and verse anthems. Gibbons' compositions are characterized by their expressive harmonies and intricate counterpoint.

Thomas Tomkins: Tomkins was another English composer who was active during the same time as John Bull. He was known for his sacred choral music, including anthems and services. Tomkins' compositions are notable for their rich harmonies and expressive melodies.

Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck: Sweelinck was a Dutch composer and organist who was highly regarded during the Renaissance period. He was known for his keyboard music, particularly his variations and fantasias. Sweelinck's compositions had a significant influence on Bull and other composers of the time.

These composers, along with John Bull, were influential figures in the development of Renaissance music and significantly contributed to the repertoire of keyboard and choral music during that era.

SKU: A0.1325134

O Little Town of Bethlehem is a beloved Christmas carol with an exciting history. It was written by Phillips Brooks in 1868 for the Sunday school children at his Philadelphia parish, Holy Trinity Church, following a pilgrimage to Bethlehem in 1865. The hymn beautifully describes the little town asleep on the December night. It gracefully modulates from a description of Christmas into examining the meaning of Christmas, encouraging charity, faith, and the coming of Christ into the human heart. The hymn is generally sung to its original tune, St. Louis by Louis H. Redner in the United States, and to Forest Green by Ralph Vaughan Williams in the United Kingdom, Canada, and Ireland. The hymn has continued to be a favorite for many people as they celebrate Christmas.

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O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Veni, veni Emmanuel)
Helmsley
Joy to the World (Antioch)
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear (Carol) 
Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming (Es ist ein Ros)
Angels We Have Heard on High (Gloria) 
God Rests Ye Merry, Gentlemen (God Rest You Merry)
What Child is This? (Greensleeves)
In Dulci Jubilo
Hark! the Herald Angels Sing (Mendelssohn) 
Personet hodie 
The First Noel 
Salzburg
We Three Kings (Three Kings of Orient)
O Come, All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fidelis)
O Little Town of Bethlehem (St. Louis)
Away in a Manger
Silent Night (Stille Nacht) 
Auld Lang Syne 
We Wish You a Merry Christmas.

SKU: A0.1358785

Rimsky-Korsakov's Six Fugues, Op. 17, composed in 1875, is an essential set of works for several reasons: Six Fugues was written in 1875 while Rimsky-Korsakov was serving as a military bandmaster in the Russian navy. Rimsky-Korsakov was a prominent Russian composer and teacher of classical music, known for his delicate orchestration and contributions to developing a Russian national identity in music. His most famous composition is The Flight of the Bumblebee. 

Rimsky-Korsakov's Six Fugues, Op. 17, are essential for their historical context, genre, instrumentation, and the composer's influence on Russian music. They provide valuable insights into Rimsky-Korsakov's compositional style and are accessible through various formats for study and enjoyment.