Piano Quartet,String Ensemble - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.549784

Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Classical,Concert,Sacred,Standards,World. Score and parts. 25 pages. Jmsgu3 #3535863. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.549784).

Mozart's Romanze from Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, K. 525 for Piano Quartet (String Trio and Piano). Duration: ca. 7:00. Score: 11 pages. Violin: 4 pages, Viola: 3 pages, Cello: 2 pages, piano: 4 pages. This is one of the most beloved works in all of Mozart's catalog making it a strong choice for a recital, meditation, nightclub, church or wedding reception.

Eine kleine Nachtmusik

Eine kleine Nachtmusik is also at the same time known as Serenade No. 13. Indeed, we find it listed in the Köchel Catalog as K. 525. With this in mind, Mozart composed the piece by all means in 1787 probably as a commission. To clarify, the title translates as a little night-music. Mozart originally scored the work in particular for an ensemble of two violins, viola, and cello with double bass (optional). In modern times the work is certainly usually performed by string orchestras, though it is often in fact performed by a string quartet – with or without double bass.

Publication

A point often overlooked is that the name of the work derives from the entry Mozart made in his private journal. He wrote: Eine kleine Nacht-Musik. This explains that Mozart was probably not naming the piece, but only entering a record that he had completed it. Nevertheless, the work was published by and large in 1827. It had been sold to the publisher for the most part in 1799 by Mozart's widow Constanze. Nowadays, it is on balance extensively performed and recorded. Some critics ultimately claim that it is the most popular of all Mozart's works.

 

Early Years

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 – 1791), was a productive and significant Austrian classical composer. Mozart displayed unusual musical capability from his earliest childhood. It seems like he was already capable on keyboard and violin at the age of two. He started composing at age five and performed before European royalty.

Middle Period

At 17, Mozart was working as a musician at the Salzburg Royal court but grew agitated from boredom and traveled to search for a more interesting job. While visiting Vienna in 1781, he was summarily dismissed from his Salzburg job. Nevertheless, he decided to stay in the capital (Vienna), where he achieved much fame but little economic haven. Throughout his concluding years in the Capital, he composed many of his most famous works: symphonies, operas, and concertos.

Final Period

The conditions surrounding his death have been much the subject of much conjecture and mythology. He composed more than 600 works, many recognized as highpoints of symphonic, chamber, concertante, choral and operatic. He is among the most everlastingly popular of classical composers, and his impact is substantial on succeeding Western art music.

 

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Piano Quartet - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.548651

Composed by James Pierpont. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Christmas. 17 pages. Jmsgu3 #3408091. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.548651).

A unique arrangement of Jingle Bells arranged for a piano quartet (piano, violin, viola, cello, and optional sleigh bells). The first verses are based on the traditional version. After an abrupt modulation, the third verse explores an augmentation canon, while the viola pursues a wild sleigh ride passage. Meanwhile, the tune is fragmented and sequenced in the piano. It gets wild but straightens out for the final refrain. Score: 7 pg, 68 ms. String parts: 2 pg. Sleighbell part: 1 pg. Piano part: 3 pg.

Jingle Bells is perhaps the most famous song in American music history. James L. Pierpont published the song One Horse Open Sleigh in the late 1850s. Since its introduction, people began to insist that Pierpont wrote it for a Sunday school choir. However, it seems unlikely that such a secular song would be considered appropriate during that historical period for Sunday school.

Christmas Repertoire

Pierpont wrote the song for the Thanksgiving holidays, but over time people began to think of it more as a Christmas song. Some choirs adopted it as part of their Christmas repertoire in the 1860s and 1870s. Jingle Bells was first recorded in 1889 on a wax cylinder.

Origins

No one knows where Pierpont composed the song. One theory suggests he wrote it in Medford Massachusetts in 1850. Sleigh races were certainly popular in 19th-century Massachusetts. To this day, a commemorative placard appears in Medford Square claiming that it is the birthplace of Jingle Bells. Others suggest that he wrote it in Savannah, Georgia where he was an organist and music director at the Unitarian Church. This theory gained support from the copyright date of 1857. We know he was living in Savannah by then.

Traffic Signals

Horse-drawn sleighs are relatively quiet in the snow. Consequently, horses were usually equipped with bell-laden straps so as to avoid accidents at blind intersections. Sleigh drivers in 19th Century New England were constantly vigilant, listening for the sounds of approaching horse-drawn sleighs. The tune imitates the rhythm that the trotting horse bells produce.

Social Context

Jingle Bells was sung as a drinking song at local revelries: during the song, folks would rhythmically jingle the ice in their glasses. A sleigh ride allowed couples to be alone together. The term Jingle bells is a poetic descriptive adjective referring specifically to the more accurate term sleigh bells. In many arrangements, sleigh bells accentuate the rhythm during the song's chorus. 

 

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. Air
2. Minuet
3. Bourrée
4. Hornpipe
5. Rigaudon
6. Minuet
7. Andante

Handel'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.

Piano Quartet - Level 1 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.548646

Composed by Wade. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Christmas. 8 pages. Jmsgu3 #3407471. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.548646).

O Come, All Ye Faithful

The traditional Adeste Fideles was arranged for a piano quartet ( piano, violin, viola & cello) featuring a thought-provoking re-harmonized final verse. O Come, All Ye Faithful is an English translation of the Latin Christmas carol Adeste Fideles. No one knows exactly who wrote it. One theory holds that King John IV of Portugal (1604–1656) wrote it. Another view says John F. Wade or John Reading wrote it. Nowadays, we usually attribute it to John Wade. It seems like Stonyhurst College in Lancashire owns the oldest manuscript. It is from the year 1751. Nevertheless, the O Come All Ye Faithful: Piano Quartet version has a re-harmonized final verse for more energy and drive.

Lyrics

Frederick Oakeley, a Catholic priest in 1841, wrote the English translation. This translation is probably the most common in English-speaking states. To begin with, the hymn had only four verses. Later, the verses grew to eight. Music directors often cut various verses because otherwise, the song goes too long. Some believe that St. Bonaventure wrote the first Latin lyrics. Others hold that King John IV of Portugal is responsible. Yet even others think the Cistercian monks wrote them.

King John IV

His subjects called King John IV of Portugal The Musician King. He became king in 1640. In addition to performing the duties of a king, he composed and wrote as a music journalist. King John built an extensive music library. Unfortunately, the massive earthquake in Lisbon ruined the library in 1755. In addition to making his library, the king started a Music School that produced many accomplished musicians. The king also worked diligently to get instrumental music approved by the Vatican for use in his churches. Aside from his authorship of Adeste Fideles, he is famous for another popular choral setting of the Crux Fidelis, a prevalent Lenten hymn.

Performance in Context

Verses are sometimes left out because all eight verses would take too long to perform. More to the point, though, some of the poems may be unsuitable for whatever church calendar they are intended. The eighth verse deals with the Epiphany, so it makes sense to sing this on Epiphany Sunday but not on other Sundays. Similarly, poems are used for whether the event is Midnight Mass or regular daytime Mass.