SKU: A0.869207

Program note:
As indicated by the title, this is my twelfth string quartet. My very first work, Aperture (1974), was a string quartet. In between I wrote four (nos. 2 – 5) for the Kronos Quartet, one (no. 6) for the Manhattan String Quartet, one (no. 7) for the Lydian String Quartet, one (no. 8) for the Artaria String Quartet, two (nos. 9 - 10) for the Hawthorne String Quartet, and one (no. 11) for the Formosa Quartet.

The number twelve immediately brought to mind the months of the year. But I thought a twelve-movement string quartet might be a bit excessive, and difficult to achieve in a coherent narrative arc. Most classical string quartets by Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven are in four movements. So why not the seasons, a movement for each: spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

I am a huge fan of The Creation by Franz Joseph Haydn. Confession: I am a huge fan of anything by maestro Haydn. For inspiration and guidance, I went to Haydn’s other oratorio The Seasons. Armed with a Dover publication of the full score and a recording of the complete work by Sir Thomas Beecham on EMI Classics, I got down to work over the summer of 2010.

String Quartet No. 12 … The Seasons, after Franz Joseph Haydn is in four movements, played without pause between movements.

1) Intro: Heavy snow … Spring: Crocuses blooming!!!
2) Summer: Cloudburst! Double rainbow … Trio
3) Autumn: La Caccia … Danza Rusticana … Trio
4) Intro: Heavy snow again … Winter: O Magnum Mysterium … Hail storm!

The work begins with four descending chords, depicting the falling of snow. But it’s Spring and crocuses are seen peeping through the snow …
Summer begins with cloudbursts, thunder, lightning and torrential rain. A double rainbow appears after the storm. The sun emerges from the clouds in the Trio section. It is a lovely day after all; but then the clouds return …
La Caccia: men go hunting in the Autumn. Well, the men in Haydn’s days at least. Peasant ladies dance as they harvest in the fields. A hawk appears, soaring overhead in the Trio as the sun sets in an orange-red sky ...
In Winter snow falls again; but it’s the season to celebrate the Nativity. Violin and viola chant O magnum mysterium … O Magnum Mysterium O great mystery Et admirabile sacramentum and wonderful sacrament Ut animalia viderent Dominum natum that animals should see the new-born Lord Jacentem in praesepio! lying in a manger! Beata Virgo, cujus viscera Blessed is the Virgin whose womb Meruerunt portare was worthy to bear Dominum Christum. Christ the Lord. Alleluia. Alleluia. A hailstorm wreaks havoc.

Fine.

Audio link.   Copy and paste the URL link into your browser.

https://thomasoboelee.bandcamp.com/album/string-quartet-no-12-the-seasons-2010

Video link: https://youtu.be/8seBbMtds84

SKU: A0.716122

The first movement from the Autumn concerto of Vivaldi's Four Seasons, simplified version.

SKU: A0.773126

Violin I plays pizzicato harpsichord’s part. 2016 Chamber Music Contest Entry.

SKU: A0.521461

'Cocktails Anyone?' is a set of 12 highly recognizable and enjoyed songs for the cocktail time.

Intermediate Level

String Quartet

AUDIO: I randomly chose the first selection as an audio sample

parts: 110+ pages

time: Approx. 90 minutes

Songs included in this set:

Autumn, allegro movement - Vivaldi

Barcarolle - Offenbach

Concerto in D for 2 violins and lute, allegro - Vivaldi

Eine Kleine Nacht Music, 1st Mov. - Mozart

Intermezzo sinfonico - Mascagni

La Cinquantaine - Gabriel-Marie

Orientale - Cui

Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini - Rachmaninoff

Serenade - Schubert

Spring, danza pastorale from the Four Seasons - Vivaldi

The Swan - Saint Saëns

Waves of the Danube (Anniversary Waltz) - Ivanovici

 

MY QUARTET VERSIONS, in short notice work fine for solo, two parts and three parts

however I also offer individual versions for one, two and three parts that are more detailed for these ensembles.

Please visit https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/search?Ntt=sherry+lewis+publishing for all of the titles I offer.

If you can’t find a title then contact me through stringquartet@hotmail.com and I’ll give you the link back to Sheet Music Plus’s listing.

VERSATILE Titles that include four parts are written with the idea that they can be performed with 1, 2, 3 or 4 musicians. Most of the contemporary/popular titles include a chord chart for a bass instrument.

PRACTICE needs would vary according to the level of the performers but my goal is to be sight-readable for most performers and groups.

AUDIO SAMPLE The 30 second mp3 is frequently shortened and may not start at the introduction to get to the reprise. The actual introduction will be in the sheet music.

LISTENABILITY I have performed thousands of weddings and special events. I make it a goal for the music to carry as well as possible through loud and large space situations.

ARRANGEMENTS usually follow the original version. There is an mp3 where you can hear 30 seconds and get a feeling of the originality of the work.

EXCELLENT for corporate events, weddings, social gatherings and recitals.

APPROPRIATE for students and schools.

CHURCH REPERTOIRE I’m always adding more titles.

Thank you for your purchase!

SKU: A0.1366465

Deng Yuxian (July 21, 1906 - June 11, 1944) was a Taiwanese Hakka composer known for nearly a hundred iconic compositions, including Rainy Night Flowers, Spring Breeze, and Four Seasons Red. He is acclaimed as the Father of Taiwanese Ballads. Born in Taoyuan into a family with a rich history, Deng attended the Taipei Normal School under Japanese rule and later pursued composition studies in Japan.Upon returning to Taiwan, Deng Yuxian created numerous popular songs. In 1940, he left the music industry to become a teacher. Unfortunately, he succumbed to heart and lung disease in 1944 at the age of less than 40. Deng's musical legacy has had a profound impact on the Taiwanese music scene, leaving an indelible mark on its history.Spring Breeze, also known as Desire to the Spring Breeze, is an ancient traditional music piece with roots in a rich and old musical tradition. Known for its millennia-old melody and profound cultural significance, the song typically expresses anticipation for spring and praises the vibrant natural scenery. 

In this reimagined arrangement, I aimed to depart from traditional arrangement methods, incorporating rich scene paintings and vivid imagery. Each section has been crafted as a musical canvas, seeking to portray imaginative landscapes between the notes. This innovative approach challenges tradition, breathing new life into this ancient piece, making it more resonant with contemporary audiences. This arrangement is not just a reinterpretation of the music but also a tribute to tradition and an exploration of new perspectives. I hope this musical adventure guides you through the intersection of tradition and modernity, allowing Spring Breeze to blossom anew in a fresh narrative of sound, providing you with a wondrous journey for the soul.