Piano Quartet,String Ensemble Cello,Piano,Viola,Violin - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.1153831 Composed by Horatio Spafford, Philip P. Bliss. Arranged by John A. Dempsey. Christian,Easter,Praise & Worship,Sacred,Traditional. Score and parts. 20 pages. John A. Dempsey #754098. Published by John A. Dempsey (A0.1153831). An unforgettable hymn of comfort and assurance, this peaceful string quartet for violin, viola, cello and piano is recommended for traditional church services and other worship events (including funerals), as a prelude, postlude, an offertory, interlude, silent prayer accompaniment and special music. Key: D major. 16 pages of music (that includes the score and separate two-parts for violin 1, viola and cello).          When peace like a river attendeth my way     When sorrows like sea billows roll;     Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say     It is well, it is well with my soul.

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 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 - Level 4 - Digital Download SKU: A0.549058 Composed by Gabriel Faure. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. 20th Century,Holiday,Instructional,Standards. 21 pages. Jmsgu3 #3449745. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.549058). Gabriel Fauré: Sicilienne Op. 78. Nice recital encore piece. It is very moody with a light touch of impressionism and poignant mode mixture. This piece will add a surprising element to your concert and demonstrate the depth of your musical sensitivity. Significant Aspects of Faure's Sicilienne Gabriel Fauré's Sicilienne, Op. 78 is significant due to its history, influence, and musical characteristics. Historical Significance The piece was initially composed in 1893 as part of incidental music for a theatrical production that was later abandoned. Fauré reused the Sicilienne in 1898 when he wrote incidental music for the English translation of Maeterlinck's play Pelléas et Mélisande. This piece was later extracted and formed into an orchestral suite for concerts, known as the Pelléas et Mélisande Suite, Op. 80. Influence and Popularity Fauré's harmonic richness and melodic innovations in the Sicilienne influenced other composers. The Sicilienne is the most famous piece from the Pelléas et Mélisande Suite and is frequently played by significant orchestras today. Musical Characteristics The piece is known for its conversational style for both cello and piano, and it exhibits chromatic movement to evoke a Renaissance aesthetic with the Sicilienne dance. It is also more complex than the typical song in terms of chords and melody, with above-average scores in chord and melodic complexity. In conclusion, Faure's Sicilienne is significant due to its historical background, influence on other composers, and unique musical characteristics. Dance and Fabric The term Sicilienne is derived from the French word Sicilienne, which means Sicilian. It is associated with a dance called the Siciliana and a kind of rich poplin fabric. Musical Style Sicilienne refers to a musical style or genre often included as a movement within more significant pieces of music, starting in the Baroque period. It is associated with a pastoral mood and is often characterized by dotted rhythms that can distinguish it within the broader musical genre of the pastorale.

Piano Quartet,String Ensemble - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.552062 Composed by Johann Pachelbel. Arranged by James M. Guthrie. Baroque,Instructional,Standards,Wedding. Score and parts. 17 pages. Jmsgu3 #6104333. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.552062). Score: 9 pages.Duration: ca. 4:40. The famous Pachelbel Canon arranged for Piano Quartet. A great choice for weddings & receptions! Pachelbel's Canon Pachelbel's Canon is, in fact, the traditional title for a composition by the German composer Johann Pachelbel. Other names for the work include namely: Canon and Gigue for 3 violins and basso continuo, Canon and Gigue in D, and of course Canon in D. We do not know when or why in particular it was written. The oldest copy is surprisingly from the 19th century. It is important to realize that it was a common routine for organists to practice improvisation on the chord progression underlying the canon. Pachelbel originally scored the Canon notably for three violins and continuo. He also in fact paired the Canon with a gigue. The movements are homotonal, to clarify, both are in the key of D major. History In due time, Pachelbel's Canon went out of style and remained in virtual oblivion for centuries. The Jean-François Paillard chamber orchestra, however, recorded an arrangement of it in 1968. As a result, it gained approval. Many ensembles began likewise to record the piece in the 1970s and by the 1980s became ubiquitous as background music. From the 1970s to the early 2000s, pop songs correspondingly used elements of the piece. The chord progression, in particular, was used this way. Also, since the 1980s, it has been not only wildly popular for weddings, but also for funeral ceremonies in the USA and Europe. Pachelbel Background Johann Pachelbel (1653 –1706) was a German composer, as well as an organist. He was furthermore instrumental in bringing the south German organ school to its apex. He wrote a large body of music, both sacred and, equally important, secular. In particular, he uniquely helped develop the chorale prelude and fugue. For this, he has, in fact, earned a rightful place in the company of the most significant composers of the mid-Baroque period. Works Pachelbel's music was certainly popular. With this in mind, he also consequently had many pupils. His music expressly developed into a model for south German composers. Nowadays, Pachelbel is most famous, particularly for the Canon in D, as well as the F minor Chaconne, the Toccata in E minor, and of course the Hexachordum Apollinis, a set of variations for the keyboard. Influences Johann Jakob Froberger and Johann Caspar Kerll were south German composers who significantly influenced Pachelbel. Furthermore, he was especially influenced by Italians such as Frescobaldi and Poglietti. He frequently preferred an articulate, simple contrapuntal style that highlighted clarity. His music is markedly less extravagant and harmonically adventurous than that of Dieterich Buxtehude. However, as a point often overlooked, like Buxtehude, Pachelbel experimented with different instrumental combinations in his chamber music. Legacy All in all, Pachelbel was most famous as a composer for the keyboard. He composed over two hundred pieces specifically for the instrument. Pachelbel was also surprisingly a prolific composer of vocal music. All in all, about a hundred vocal works survive, including 40 or so large-scale works.

Piano Quartet,String Ensemble - Level 1 - Digital Download SKU: A0.548728 Composed by Martin Luther. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Easter,Instructional,Standards. Score and parts. 11 pages. Jmsgu3 #3412023. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.548728). Out of the Depths I Cry to You by Martin Luther. First verses feature modified counterpoint and harmony proceeding at quarter = 82. The final verse is reharmonized for maximum dramatic effect at a more contemplative tempo such as quarter = 64. Very powerful selection for Lent or Easter. Duration (3 verses) 3:05, 36 ms. Score: 5 pg. piano part 2 pg. Out of the Depths Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir (From deep affliction I cry out to you), is, of course, a hymn composed by Martin Luther. Moreover, Luther also wrote the lyrics which are essentially a paraphrase of Psalm 130. First published in 1524, it is also one of eight songs in the original Lutheran hymnal. It appears likewise in many hymnals and in different translations. The lyrics furthermore stimulated compositions from the Renaissance to contemporary. Consequently, composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach built an entire chorale cantata on it. Other composers similarly contributed compositions, such as Felix Mendelssohn and Max Reger. Luther Background Martin Luther, (1483 –1546) was a German professor of theology, composer, priest, and moreover, an influential character in the Protestant Reformation. Luther had a momentous impact on church and society due to his contributions to the musical arts. He wanted to disseminate the gospel among mankind and with this intention thought that the best way to do that was through music. Influence It is important to realize that other musicians, and their descendants, were encouraged by Luther’s songs and wrote their own hymns. Luther, to be sure, had a thorough musical education. For example, he knew secular and sacred songs from an early age. He, in particular, played the lute well and sang in the monastery when he was a monk. That is to say, music was an essential part of his life. He in fact first began writing songs in 1523, sometimes writing the melody as well as the lyrics. Luther was certainly able to evaluate the composers of his time. He thought especially highly of Josquin des and Ludwig Senfl. He was also acquainted, with this in mind, with other composers and their works. Legacy The Lutheran musical ethos soon covered all of Germany and later significantly fashioned Protestant musical culture. Heinrich Schütz and Johann Sebastian Bach are the most compelling evidence of this Protestant musical culture. Additionally, as a point often overlooked, the pedal organ, first refined in northern Germany, became universally prevalent. As a matter of fact, Dieterich Buxtehude established a regular evening organ concert series in Lübeck. Another key point is that this concert series, in turn, spread North German Musical ideas worldwide. Luther was especially convinced that music is a beautiful and exclusive offering of the divine.

Piano Quartet,String Ensemble Cello,Piano,Viola,Violin - Level 2 - Digital Download SKU: A0.924681 By R.E.M. By Michael Mills, Michael Stipe, Peter Buck, and William Berry. Arranged by Rob Barnes. Pop,Rock. Score and parts. 15 pages. Rob Barnes #4985035. Published by Rob Barnes (A0.924681). A piano quartet arrangement of the R.E.M. song 'The One I Love'. The sheet music includes separate parts for vioin, viola, cello and piano. The violin takes the melody for most of the piece and the viola provides some harmony lines. There is also some added interplay between the parts to add interest. Overall, the strings have a 'romantic' feel with long, sustained notes.This piece would be perfect for a wedding or any appropriate ceremony. It could also be used in a recital when a more contemporary piece is required.

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.