Piano Quartet - Level 1 - Digital Download SKU: A0.548633 Composed by Gruber. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Christmas. 11 pages. Jmsgu3 #3405403. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.548633). Silent Night for piano quartet. The final verse features a surprise re-harmonization of the melody.  Origins Father Joseph Mohr wrote the lyrics for a new Christmas Carol. He wanted the new carol for his Christmas Eve Mass. With only a couple of hours until the service, He asked organist and schoolteacher Franz Gruber to write a melody and simple accompaniment to accompany the lyrics. The result is probably the most famous Christmas carols – Silent Night. First Performance Perhaps because the organ was undergoing repairs or to ensure the accompaniment was easy enough, Mohr asked Gruber to write it for the guitar. Mohr played the guitar, and Mohr and Gruber gave the world premiere performance at the Christmas Eve Mass in 1818 at St. Nicholas Church in Oberndorf in Salzburg. Original Score Eventually, the original score became lost, and Mohr's name was largely forgotten.  Though the public initially recognized Gruber as the composer, many people began rumors that a more famous composer was responsible over time. Thus, they floated the names of Haydn, Mozart, and even Beethoven. Authorities eventually settled the matter when a manuscript in Mohr’s handwriting turned up in 1820. Consequently, we learn that Mohr wrote the lyrics in 1816, and Gruber composed the melody in 1818. Popularity Nonetheless, Silent Night is still very popular. Singers have performed this song in nearly every genre and multiple languages. Perhaps the most famous version is the one Bing Crosby crafted. This version is the third best-selling physical single recording in the history of recorded music. This recording was released in 1935 and sold at least 30 million copies. Only two songs have ever sold more. Elton John released Candle in the Wind 1997 and sold 33 million copies. The record for most copies ever sold goes to Bing Crosby. He released White Christmas in 1942 and sold 50 million physical copies.

Piano Quartet - Level 4 - Digital Download SKU: A0.549720 Composed by Gabriel Faure. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Contemporary,Multicultural,Romantic Period,Standards,World. 33 pages. Jmsgu3 #3531235. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.549720). It's an epic choice for a recital or funeral. Fauré Background: In the first place, Gabriel Fauré 1845 –1924) was a famous French composer, musician, and educator. Furthermore, his musical ideas influenced numerous 20th-century composers. Therefore, historians regard him as one of the leading French composers of his time. Famous Works: Among his most famous compositions, by and large, are the Pavane, Elegie (op. 24), Requiem, Sicilienne, Nocturnes for piano, and the songs Après un rêve and Clair de lune. Since his early works are well-known and relatively easy to perform, Faure's music seems to have become gradually more difficult during his later life. In other words, his later works are somewhat esoteric and complex. Early Home Life: Fauré was born into a well-cultivated family. His aptitude for music became particularly clear early on - when he was still a boy. Under these circumstances, his parents sent him to a music institution in Paris. Consequently, his training there prepared him for a church organist and choirmaster career. Middle Life: It is essential to realize that Fauré studied music composition with the French musical mastermind Camille Saint-Saëns, who became his lifelong friend. Fauré eventually graduated from college and earned a living as an organist and educator. During this period, he had, on the whole, little time to compose. He became more successful in his middle age, becoming organist of the Église de la Madeleine and director of the Paris Conservatoire. However, he still needed time to balance his composing. Therefore, given these points, he withdrew to the countryside during the summer to focus on composing. Later Life: Fauré was, in the final analysis, recognized in France as the foremost French composer of his time. The French government held a national musical tribute in Paris, particularly for him. The French President notably headed the ceremony. Elsewhere, on the contrary, Fauré's music was slow to become accepted, except, of course, in England. Legacy: Historians often describe Fauré's music, in general, as a transition between the end of Romanticism and the beginning of modernism. As an illustration, when Fauré was born, Chopin was still composing. However, by Fauré's death, jazz and atonal music had mainly come to fruition. Fauré, by all means, suffered from increasing deafness in his later years. Some musicologists believe this to be the cause of the esoteric nature of Faure's final works.

Piano Quartet,String Ensemble Cello,Piano,Viola,Violin - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.552117 Composed by George Friderick Handel (1685-1756). Arranged by James M. Guthrie. Baroque,Instructional,Standards,Wedding. Score and parts. 36 pages. Jmsgu3 #6121085. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.552117). Seven popular pieces from Handel's Water Music - most often requested for weddings. Score: 16 pages, Duration 12:15. Players may read from the score, or from the included instrumental parts.Contents: 1. Air2. Minuet3. Bourrée4. Hornpipe5. Rigaudon6. Minuet7. AndanteHandel's Water Music is one of his most famous compositions. It was written for King George I's pleasure barge trip along the River Thames in 1717. The Water Music is divided into three suites, each containing a variety of movements. The music features a mix of dance rhythms such as minuets, bourrees, and hornpipes, along with lively fanfares and slower, more stately airs. Its combination of light and playful music with grandeur and pomp has made it one of the most beloved pieces of classical music. Water Music has been performed by many orchestras and is a popular choice for special occasions, such as coronations and weddings. Its enduring popularity has helped to make it one of Handel's most famous and beloved compositions.Weddings during the time of Handel were usually quite extravagant affairs. The ceremony was typically held in a church and was accompanied by a full orchestra. Handel's own compositions were frequently used to provide the music for the ceremony. This was especially true in London, where Handel was based and where his music was extremely popular. Handel wrote a number of pieces specifically for use at weddings, including the popular Wedding Anthem and the Wedding Anthem in D Major. Handel's music provided a sense of grandeur and elegance to the proceedings and was often used to give the wedding an extra special touch.The festivities following the ceremony were also often quite lavish, with a large feast and plenty of dancing. Handel's music was often used to provide the background music for the dancing, and he wrote many dance suites that were specifically designed for this purpose. The bride and groom would often have a special dance to the music of Handel's Water Music, a particularly popular piece for the occasion. Guests at the wedding would be treated to a variety of Handel's works, ranging from his operas to his oratorios, which often had a spiritual or religious theme. Handel's music provided a sense of joy and celebration to the wedding and helped make it an occasion to remember.