Chamber Orchestra - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1164132

Composed by Arianna Cunningham. Classical,Romantic Period. 55 pages. Arianna Cunningham #764482. Published by Arianna Cunningham (A0.1164132).

A couple or a few years ago during the Pandemic, there was a Discord Server vs Server Competition going on, and one of the online virtual group communities out of all the other servers took part in a theme called Dreams. When the event started, I immediately started composing this beautiful composition, and chose the instrumentation for Uncommon Woodwinds (Alto Flute, English Horn, and Sopranino Sax), Strings, Harp, and Crotales. However, my submission entry didn't make it to the final Dreams EP as expected. But the admins of the online orchestra group told me that I can still host it as a community project, and it just so happens that I actually did do that, and I've gotten a good amount of submissions from the members themselves, went through all the mixing and editing, etc, before releasing the final performance.

This piece is meant to be described about dreaming to a wonderful place you might've remembered, and haven't forgotten in a long time, experiencing the deja vu moments of what you think might've happened long time ago, hence the title, of course.

Chamber Orchestra - Level 4 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.957971

Composed by Nancy Shafer Rohar. Christmas,Contemporary. Score and parts. 77 pages. Nancy Shafer Rohar #3860767. Published by Nancy Shafer Rohar (A0.957971).

Piccolo is prominent in this piece that was inspired by the joy and anticipation felt by children on Christmas Eve.  The piece tells the story of children that are trying to stay awake to watch for Santa, and they also can't sleep because it's getting close to Christmas morning.  They start out full of energy and try to sneak down the stairs to peek at packages under the tree.  They run back up to their rooms and look out the window just in time to see the snow start to fall. Just before they nod off they think they DO hear Santa on the roof, and they try again to keep their eyes open but they can't, and they drift off to sleep.  In the final bars you can imagine them dreaming of Santa flying on to the next house, while they are snug and warm in their beds. 

Chamber Orchestra - Level 4 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.796624

By Billy Joel. By Billy Joel. Arranged by Gary D.Belshaw (ASCAP). Pop,Rock. Score and parts. 26 pages. DR GARY D BELSHAW #3109511. Published by DR GARY D BELSHAW (A0.796624).

For String Quartet plus a guest artist: Alto Sax, Clarinet, Flute, Oboe, or Trumpet. From Billy Joel's final album, River of Dreams (1993).
How would you answer a 7-year-old's question, Where do we go when we die? The hint of Medieval ambience came from Joel's plans to make this song part of a suite, with lyrics sung in Latin. The song has been covered more than 2 dozen times. Don't let our version become maudlin or morose. It's got plenty of meaning without getting gushy or sentimental. I chose the Alto sax for its contrast with the strings; the other instruments allow you to select from a variety of guest artists.

Thank you for considering this work; your impressions are valuable. Follow Gary D.Belshaw Music on Facebook and Twitter (@GaryDBelshawMus).

Chamber Orchestra - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1035224

Composed by Frederik François Chopin (1810-1949). Arranged by James Strauss. Romantic Period. Score and parts. 33 pages. James Strauss #5806027. Published by James Strauss (A0.1035224).

Unless your name is Mozart, Mendelssohn or Korngold, the first compositional steps are always the hardest. Chopin was probably no older than 14 when he set to work on a set of variations for piano and flute. Already in love with opera, he decided on the happy- ending aria, Non più mesta (No longer sad) from Rossini’s opera Cinderella. As the curtain comes down, Cinderella gleefully warbles, No longer sad beside the fire shall I sit alone, singing; my long years of heartache were but a streak of lightning, a dream, a game. We are unsure what actually prompted Chopin to select this for his unique combination of flute and piano, but it was most likely written for the composer’s father who was a capable amateur flute player. In the end, the piece was probably dedicated to Józef Cichowski, a close friend of his fathers and an amateur flautist as well. We are indeed fortunate that this early piece of Chopin juvenilia has actually survived, as Jozef Nowakowski, one of the composer’s friends, kept the single manuscript copy as a memento. For one reason or another, the work did not appear in print until 1953. This charming and fluent set of variations presents the theme and four decorated versions of the original tune. Added triplet figuration enlivens the first variation, while the second relies on a florid bel canto style to embellish the theme. Rapid downward arpeggios propel variation three, and the concluding variant displays rapid staccato figuration. Stylistically, there is nothing in this composition to suggest Chopin’s hand. You certainly won’t hear Chopin’s fingerprint in the piano part, as all the interesting bits are given to the flute. In addition, it’s the only Chopin piano part that can comfortably be played by most amateurs. Clearly, the future poet of the piano had a long way to go! Here in a Flute and orchestra version.