Woodwind Ensemble,Woodwind Quartet Clarinet - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.549861

Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Baroque,Concert,Easter,Sacred,Wedding. 18 pages. Jmsgu3 #3557469. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.549861).

Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (Awake, the Voice is calling us) from Cantata BWV 140. Duration: ca. 4:00, Score: 10 pages, Program this for church services during the Easter season, weddings, or as a recital encore. Instrumentation: 2 Bb clarinets, 1 alto clarinet, 1 bass clarinet.

Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme

(Awake, the Voice is calling us) also known as: Sleepers Awake

Bach composed his church cantata Wachet auf (BWV 140) as part of his second annual cantata cycle covering the entire annual church calendar. It is based on the hymn of the same name by Philipp Nicolai (1599). The hymn text covers the readings for the 27th Sunday after Trinity. Bach designed the cantata in seven movements, setting the stanzas in various forms. Among these forms are the chorale fantasia, the chorale prelude, and a four-part chorale. He casts the new lyrics as recitatives – in a manner similar to the opera.

Fourth Movement

Bach writes the fourth movement, Zion hört die Wächter singen (Zion hears the watchmen singing), in the style of a chorale prelude with the chorale phrases performed as a strict cantus firmus. The phrases seem to enter at times erratically against the famous lyrical melody. The violins play this melody in unison as a foil against the cantus phrases. The violin melody is so independent and complete that when the cantus melody appears it catches the listener at times totally off-guard. Bach later transcribed this movement for organ (BWV 645). This transcription became No. 1 of the Six Schübler Chorales.

Bach Overview

First of all, Johann Sebastian Bach is maybe the greatest composer in music history. Certainly, he was prolific. As a result, everyone has heard of his works. Furthermore, these works number well over a thousand. It seems like people are probably most familiar with the instrumental works such as the Brandenburg Concertos, and the Goldberg Variations. But, similarly famous are such noteworthy works as the Well-Tempered Clavier, the Musical Offering, and certainly the Art of Fugue. Seems like his most famous vocal works include the most noteworthy Mass in B Minor. Also, most noteworthy, though, are the St. John Passion, and certainly the Christmas Oratorio.

 History

Bach came from a long line of musicians and above all, composers. Consequently, he, first of all, pursued a career as a church organist. So as a result, he gained employment in various Protestant churches in Germany. For a while, he worked as a court musician in Weimar and Köthen. Here he probably developed his organ style and likewise his chamber music style. Eventually, he, therefore, gained an appointment as Cantor of St. Thomas in Leipzig. Here he worked until difficulties with his employer ultimately drove him away. The King of Poland finally appointed him as court composer.

 Style

It seems like Bach created a fascinating new international style. He synthesized elements of the most noteworthy European music ideas into his new style. Even more, this new style was probably his synthesis of European musical rhythm and form. Furthermore, he demonstrated a complete mastery of counterpoint and motivic development. His sense of harmonic organization probably propelled him to the top.

Revival              

Mendelssohn conducted a Bach revival in the nineteenth century. His effort probably helped to re-familiarize the public with the magnitude of Bach’s works. During this period, scholars published many noteworthy Bach biographies. Moreover, Wolfgang Schmieder published the BWV (Bach Werke Verzeichnis). As a result, this is now the official catalog of his entire artistic output. The BWV number allows us to locate a work in the catalog. Sometimes scholars will simply use an S (Schmieder) as an abbrevia.

Woodwind Ensemble,Woodwind Quartet Clarinet - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.838037

By The Carpenters. By John Woloschuk and Terry Draper. Arranged by Spence Bundy. Pop,Rock. 14 pages. Spencer Bundy #6663091. Published by Spencer Bundy (A0.838037).

Originally from a group called Klaatu in 1976, it was covered by The Carpenters a year later using reportedly over 100 musicians. This version uses slightly more manageable resources and should be enjoyed by audiences everywhere.

Woodwind Ensemble,Woodwind Quartet Bass Clarinet - Level 5 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.581937

Composed by John Gibson. Contemporary. 17 pages. JB Linear #3459833. Published by JB Linear (A0.581937).

Extinction Events (4th movement - Yaguaretê* Surprise) by John Gibson was written as a submission to the International Clarinet Association's 2018 Composition Competition. Written for 3 Bb clarinets and 1 bass clarinet, it is a four movement work for very advanced players. This is the fourth movement only...the others may be purchased separately: Buzzy Delights, It Isn't Easy Being a Cuckoo, and Walrus Jump. The entire set of 4 movements may also be purchased. Simply type extinction events Gibson in the search bar at the top. *(Yaguartë = Argentine Jaguar)

Each movement imagines a different animal or insect living in its habitat as it gradually deteriorates. One might think this would be sad, violent music, but each earthly creature is shown in its musical habitat where it happily does what it does best....bees buzzing around flowers, cuckoos gently calling in the forest, Walruses jumping not so gracefully onto sea ice, Jaguars quietly stalking their prey. The habitat changes are depicted by gradual use of unstable scales, and the sometimes hidden ancient tune of the Dies Irae, the Day of Wrath.

The point I wish to make is how humans must be watchful of wildlife habitats because we are all in this limited world together. Where wild creatures go, so do we. It was best said by Jane Goodall: Only if we understand can we care. Only if we care will we help. Only if we help shall they be saved.

Argentine Jaguars (Yaguareté) are experiencing shrinking habitats due to human population growth and cutting of forests. In this piece I imagined a Jaguar slowly stalking its prey, moving silently on velvet paws. She moves carefully but with barely hidden energy, pausing, then freezing, then suddenly pouncing. Surprise! Sadly, the Dies Irae music plays on.
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Woodwind Ensemble,Woodwind Quartet Bass Clarinet - Level 5 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.581936

Composed by John Gibson. Contemporary. 19 pages. JB Linear #3457481. Published by JB Linear (A0.581936).

Extinction Events (3rd movement - Walrus Jump by John Gibson was written as a submission to the International Clarinet Association's 2018 Composition Competition. Written for 3 Bb clarinets and 1 bass clarinet, it is a four movement work for very advanced players. This is the third movement only...the others may be purchased separately: Buzzy Delights, It Isn't Easy Being a Cuckoo, and Yaguarete Surprise (Argentine Jaguar). The entire set of 4 movements may also be purchased. Simply type extinction events Gibson in the search bar at the top.

You can watch a You Tube video at https://youtu.be/zdxKbnvD6iI 

Each movement imagines a different animal or insect living in its habitat as it gradually deteriorates. One might think this would be sad, violent music, but each earthly creature is shown in its musical habitat where it happily does what it does best....bees buzzing around flowers, cuckoos gently calling in the forest, Walruses jumping not so gracefully onto sea ice, Jaguars quietly stalking their prey. The habitat changes are depicted by gradual use of unstable scales, and the sometimes hidden ancient tune of the Dies Irae, the Day of Wrath.

The point I wish to make is how humans must be watchful of wildlife habitats because we are all in this limited world together. Where wild creatures go, so do we. It was best said by Jane Goodall: Only if we understand can we care. Only if we care will we help. Only if we help shall they be saved.

Walruses are huge aquatic animals who are powerful and swift in the water, but when they jump onto sea ice to rest, they are anything but graceful. They are a bit comical, really. Subsistence hunters in the Bering Strait of Alaska are having trouble with their Spring hunts due to gradual warming of the arctic waters. Sea ice is getting thinner and the Walruses they rely upon to live are getting too far away. This Walrus Jump music is a pretty happy sounding boogie woogie that shows signs of musical distress as it goes on.

Woodwind Ensemble Bass Clarinet - Level 5 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.581932

Composed by John Gibson. Contemporary. 71 pages. JB Linear #3452175. Published by JB Linear (A0.581932).

Extinction Events by John Gibson was written as a submission to the International Clarinet Association's 2018 Composition Competition. Written for 3 Bb clarinets and 1 bass clarinet, it is a four movement work lasting about 11 minutes and is for very advanced players. The movements are: Buzzy Delights (Honey Bees), It Isn't Easy Being a Cuckoo, Walrus Jump, and Yaguarete Surprise (Argentine Jaguar).

Each movement imagines a different animal or insect living in its habitat as it gradually deteriorates. One might think this would be sad, violent music, but each earthly creature is shown in its musical habitat where it happily does what it does best....bees buzzing around flowers, cuckoos gently calling in the forest, Walruses jumping not so gracefully onto sea ice, Jaguars quietly stalking their prey.  The habitat changes are depicted by gradual use of unstable scales, and the sometimes hidden ancient tune of the Dies Irae, the Day of Wrath.

The point I wish to make is how humans must be watchful of wildlife habitats because we are all in this limited world together.  Where wild creatures go, so do we. It was best said by Jane Goodall: Only if we understand can we care. Only if we care will we help. Only if we help shall they be saved.

Each movement will also be made available separately as time goes by....just waiting for special days like World Wildlife Day!

By David Croft and Roy Moore. Arranged by Hugh Levey. Score, Set of Parts. 15 pages. Published by woodwindly.com

Composed by Tod Galloway. Arranged by Martin Todd. 20th Century, Romantic Period. Score, Set of Parts. 6 pages. Published by Madecroft Publishing (S0.17270). - Score,Set of Parts - 20th Century,Romantic Period - Madecroft Publishing

Clarinet Quartet,Woodwind Ensemble Bass Clarinet - Level 4 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.738179

Composed by Fiona Hickie. Contemporary. 14 pages. Fiona Alice Hickie #5045583. Published by Fiona Alice Hickie (A0.738179).

A fun piece for clarinet quartet about the meerkat. What is Mr Meerkat up to? Is he travelling along his network of tunnels in his burrow, or is he calling his mates while being sentry, or is he playing with his mates.