Piano Quartet - Level 2 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.549902

Composed by Traditional. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Christmas,Standards. 6 pages. Jmsgu3 #3685135. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.549902).

Score: 3 pages, String parts 1 page each. The First Noel arranged for Alto Sax & Piano with new harmony for the final verse.

Origins

The First Noel is an English Christmas carol. Even more, it was probably written in the late Cornish Renaissance period. While other versions spell the title as Nowell, this is just a colloquial variation. Furthermore, Noel is an older word meaning Christmas. Therefore the First Noel translates as the First Christmas. First of all, Gilbert and Sandy published the earliest version. As a result, this version appears in the Carols Ancient and Modern songbook of 1823. William Sandy edited and arranged the book. Similarly, his partner Davies Gilbert edited and added the familiar extra verses. The First Noel: Piano Quartet Version comes with new harmony in final verse for more energy and drive.

Stainer

Organist and composer Sir John Stainer published the most noteworthy customary arrangement in the 1870’s.  Stainer is above all famous for his songbook entitled: Christmas Carols New and Old (1871). This volume served as an important catalyst for reviving the English Christmas carol.  Other famous Stainer arrangements from this book are such titles as What Child Is This, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Good King Wenceslas, and I Saw Three Ships.

Diatonic Function

The melodic structure in the First Noel is uncommon among English folk tunes. It simply repeats one phrase twice then follows a variation refrain. All three phrases of the song end on the mediant scale degree. This is unusual because the diatonic function of the mediant is non-final compared to the more usual tonic or even dominant degrees. Consequently, this gives the song as kind of open-ended feeling – like maybe it never really ends.

Political Context

The Catholic clergy sang carols outside of the church in Latin. After the Protestant Reformation, the reformers thought it would be better for everyone to sing carols. They decided to bring music back to the common folk. So, they translated the lyrics from Latin into common language. Moreover, the Protestants wanted more control over the music in church than what the Vatican allowed. Protestant composers such as William Byrd composed complex polyphonic Christmas music that they called carols. Nonetheless, some famous folk carols were composed in this era. Eminent composers in the nineteenth century began to revise and adapt them. Consequently, they revived the English carol.

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Piano Quartet,String Ensemble Cello,Piano,Viola,Violin - Level 4 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.755009

Composed by Sy Brandon. 20th Century,Contemporary. Score and parts. 49 pages. Sy Brandon #3239669. Published by Sy Brandon (A0.755009).

In The Land of Wonder-Wander attempts to capture the essence of both Maxfield Parrish’s illustration and Eugene Fields’ poem The Dinkey-Bird. Both the painting and the poem create the feeling of a magical place where beauty, joy and pleasure abound. It is a mysterious place, perhaps as occurring in a dream, yet a place where one does not wish to leave. In The Land of Wonder-Wander begins quietly with vague tonality and sparse instrumentation as it transports the listener into this mystical land. As the tempo becomes stricter and the instrumentation fuller, the beauty of this place is apparent. A change to a triple meter and a faster tempo creates a joyous and wondrous section as there are many sweet treats growing to satisfy the soul. Children scampering and playing are represented by an allegro section with playful melodies and slight dissonance. The Dinkey Bird becomes the focus of the next section, which uses a staccato motif surrounded by rapid scales and arpeggios. These ideas build in intensity, expressing the wonder and beauty of this far away land, until they begin to fade away as the land recedes into the sea. A last flourish occurs as if one is trying to hold on to the experience before one wakes up from this marvelous dream.

Piano Quartet Cello,Piano,Viola,Violin - Level 4 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1404728

Composed by Terry Vosbein. 21st Century,Chamber,Classical. 57 pages. Max Frank Music #987795. Published by Max Frank Music (A0.1404728).

“Parallel Tracks� was primarily inspired by a ten day train trip, from the heart of Virginia to the far west and back. It is not necessarily a narrative of that journey. Rather, it is a collage of sensations, taking in the sounds, smells, tastes, and feelings of the voyage. Much like the views through the train windows, the musical vistas of this work change rapidly. There are rolling fertile plains, deep river valleys, and jagged mountainous peaks. The train passes through some of the nations’s larg- est cities and some of its tiniest bergs, crosses some of the oldest and newest mountain ranges in the country. There are tunnels and trestles, forests, farms, and prairies. It is incredibly calm yet delightfully exciting.

There is something elegant about spending an extended period crossing the country in an Amtrak roomette. On such trains as the Cardinal, the Empire Builder, the Coast Starlight, and the Califor- nia Zephyr, it feels as if one is stepping into the past. Nothing is rushed. Fine dining, spectacular views, riveting conversations with strangers. The grandeur of the mighty stations, such as Union Station in Chicago. And the humble beauty of the smaller stops like Staunton, Virginia, my starting and ending point.

The perpetual motion of train travel is unique. The movement can feel smooth at times and bone rattling just a few minutes later. It can be a quiet purr or the sound of grating metal. And yet the gentle sway can envelop one like a blanket, enticing deep sleep throughout the night. Waking to pastries and coffee while rolling across the countryside is divine. And elegant.

“Parallel Tracks� begins with a sound of forward motion put forth by the piano. Smooth and easy. Plucked strings ride on top of the steady piano pad as the chain of cars passes effortlessly through fields. As the cello presents the first theme, a more strident feeling is revealed and explored, driv- ing the engine toward its dramatic destinations. The first climax gives way to a playful scherzo-like section, the elegance of the journey on full display. The return of the first theme at a more majestic tempo announces that the voyage’s terminus is near.

The parallel tracks on which a train glides are always a fixed distance and never cross. The parallel tracks of life are not so bound by mathematics. There is something more fluid when the tracks are allowed to cross. The string section and the piano each create their own track in this composition, frequently squaring off. At times it is if they are on the same train but sitting in opposite directions and on the opposite side of the car. There are moments that even sound as if they are proceeding at two different speeds. But their tracks are never too divergent, never really out of sync. And both arrive at the final stop together.

Piano Quartet Cello,Piano,Violin - Level 5 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1283409

Composed by Eugene Astapov. 21st Century,Chamber,Contemporary. 19 pages. EAMUSIC #874594. Published by EAMUSIC (A0.1283409).

Nocturne was inspired by a meteorological phenomenon that is known as “noctilucence� and refers to shining clouds at high altitudes only observable for a short period of time in the summer twilight sky. In Canada we don’t get many summer days, that is why this occurrence 
is particularly special and beautiful. From the first measures the music evokes the feelings of tranquility and ephemeral elegance. Structurally this piece is almost built after some of Chopin’s Nocturnes which were written in 3-part form and often featured emotional and moving musical material towards the end of the piece. Even though nocturnes are generally meant to depict peaceful night music and my piece certainly opens that way, it does not stay calm and quiet for the duration of the piece because the night, after all, can be full of surprises and mysteries. 
The music is meant to be played with flair and colour, in a light and improvisatory way. This piece was first premiered at the Intimacy of Creativity Festival in Hong Kong in May 2019 with the assistance from Bright Sheng. Following the Audience Choice vote at the festival, and further revised, the piece was brought to the audiences in Philadelphia at the Curtis Institute of Music featuring musicians from the Curtis 20/21 Ensemble in December 2019.
The piece is scored for Clarinet, Violin, Cello and Piano.
 
Duration is approximately 9 minutes.

Piano Quartet,String Ensemble Cello,Piano,Viola,Violin - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1009032

Composed by Carlo Moldez. Arranged by Carlo Moldez. Classical. Score and parts. 13 pages. Carlo Moldez #6486669. Published by Carlo Moldez (A0.1009032).

Outside walkin' is an original composition for the Piano and String Quartet. It invokes the feeling of what is outside your familiar place. It is a feeling of discovering something beautiful that is outside your dwelling place. A beautiful scenery that is waiting to be discovered. 

credits

Piano Quartet,String Ensemble Cello,Piano,Viola,Violin - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.874432

Composed by Gavin Koh. Concert,Contemporary,Latin,Standards. Score and parts. 19 pages. Gavin Koh #4300377. Published by Gavin Koh (A0.874432).

Enjoy a cooling early morning breeze at dawn. What a great way to spend at the beach. This version is for Piano Quartet (piano, violin, viola, cello).

The idea for this composition just came out of the blue. I needed something exotic - so I grabbed some Latin rhythms and came up with a melody that invoked the feeling of lazing in the early dawn morning on the beach with a gentle breeze blowing in from the sea. 

I sincerely hope you will like performing this. Please provide feedback at the Facebook link below.

Listen to the composer's works at https://soundcloud.com/gavinkoh
Follow the composer at https://www.facebook.com/gavinkoh1970