Cello,Piano,Viola,Violin - Level 2 - Digital Download SKU: A0.548706 Composed by Adam. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Christmas,Standards. 18 pages. Jmsgu3 #3411563. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.548706). Cantique de Noël The French composer Adolphe Adam was already famous as a composer of many successful ballets and operas. Then, in the 1840s, he wrote his most famous work - O Holy Night. The original song title was Minuit Chretiens or Cantique de Noël.  Placide Cappeau provided the original song lyrics. The song was first performed in Roquemaure by the opera singer Emily Laurey at midnight mass in 1847. It became trendy among the French, much like Silent Night was famous elsewhere. In 1850, John S. Dwight, a Unitarian minister and music teacher, translated the song into English.   Adolphe Adam Adam studied organ and composition at the Paris Conservatoire in his younger years. He also played the timpani in the Conservatoire orchestra. Adam used his savings and borrowed money to open a new opera house - the fourth opera house in Paris in 1847. Unfortunately, the Revolution of 1848 forced him to close. He taught composition at the Paris Conservatoire from 1849 until he died in 1856. Placide Cappeau The poet Cappeau was an advocate of the French Enlightenment philosopher Voltaire. Voltaire was renowned for criticizing the Catholic church, religious intolerance, and dogma in general. Consequently, Cappeau made the Redeemer figure in his song a kind of reformer of injustices, particularly the problem of original sin. To begin with, people recognized Cappeau's theology as eccentric, probably even doubtful. Theology In the earlier form of Minuit, the Christ figure descends to intervene with His Father's plan to punish humanity. Traditional doctrine pronounces that Christ came from love, not to intervene. This version also declares that Christ appeared to delete the original sin of Adam. Cappeau removed this part from his poem years later because he didn't believe it. He preferred to portray Christ as the reformer of disparity and unfairness. Before long, the writer/politician Alphonse de Lamartine called the Minuit the Marseillaise of religion. Most French churchmen agreed with this idea but did not consider it a tribute.    

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 Cello,Piano,Viola,Violin - Level 4 - Digital Download SKU: A0.816447 Composed by Felix Bartholdy Mendelssohn. Arranged by Julia Samarska. Multicultural,Romantic Period,Standards,World. 27 pages. Julia Samarska #6758799. Published by Julia Samarska (A0.816447). Felix Mendelssohn - Nocturne (from A Midsummer Night's Dream) arr. for piano quartet - piano, violin, viola, cello (score and parts).

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.  Register for free lifetime updates and revisions of this product at www.jamesguthrie.com

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 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.